Assistant Fire Chief Brian Tracer has been appointed as acting fire chief for East Jefferson Fire Rescue.
Tracer took over as chief last week.
The move is expected to be temporary, as officials …
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Assistant Fire Chief Brian Tracer has been appointed as acting fire chief for East Jefferson Fire Rescue.
Tracer took over as chief last week.
The move is expected to be temporary, as officials with East Jefferson Fire Rescue are talking with North Kitsap Fire & Rescue Chief Dan Smith to have Smith take over as interim chief while the search for a permanent chief continues.
The department’s last chief, Jim Walkowski, stepped down from his position in June due to an impending move to Spokane.
Tracer joined East Jefferson Fire Rescue in 2014 and heads the department’s Fire Prevention and Investigation Division, as well as the Marine Division.
Before coming to the fire department, Tracer was a chief civil deputy for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and had worked for the sheriff’s office for more than 20 years.
Tracer also serves as president of the regional Fire Investigation Task Force, which investigates the cause and origin of fires in Jefferson County.
East Jefferson Fire Rescue Commissioner Dave Johnson said the plan is to keep Tracer on board as acting chief until an interlocal agreement can be reached with North Kitsap Fire & Rescue that would allow Smith to take over as chief until a new chief is appointed for East Jefferson Fire Rescue.
Tracer, in an email to The Leader, noted that Smith is very familiar with the department.
“Chief Smith has many years in the fire service. He has worked with EJFR in the past and knows our agency well,” Tracer said. “His skills, knowledge and experience will benefit EJFR while we continue to look for a new fire chief.”
Tracer, who is also serving on the search committee for the department’s new chief, said he will stay on as chief until the contract with North Kitsap Fire & Rescue is approved by the boards of both departments.
“Chief Smith’s appointment will free me up to continue my duties as assistant fire chief/fire marshal for the county and the city,” Tracer added.
Tracer took over as acting fire chief Wednesday, July 1. He said the interlocal agreement with North Kitsap Fire & Rescue will likely be on the agenda for the July15 meeting of the EJFR Board of Fire Commissioners.
