Dave Johnson has stepped down from his role as East Jefferson fire commissioner and chair of the board of fire commissioners for East Jefferson Fire Rescue due to medical reasons.

Johnson served the fire district for eight years, and his time on the board followed a lengthy career in fire service locally and across the state.

Johnson was born in Yakima. He attended Yakima Valley College and the University of Washington, graduating with a degree in technical fire management. He began working for the U.S. Forest Service in 1969 and retired in 2007 with 39 years of service.

The former fire commissioner held many notable positions through the years, including working on a wildland engine in the Snoqualmie National Forest; serving as assistant fire management officer for the Colville National Forest and Olympic National Forest; acting as fuels management specialist in the Umpqua National Forest, and as a fire and aviation staff officer for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

While with the Umpqua National Forest Service, he became an emergency medical technician and instructor.

Johnson was instrumental in starting an ambulance service for the Days Creek Tiller areas and taught several EMT classes.

When he moved to the Port Hadlock area in 1984, he volunteered for the Chimacum Fire District and became the first EMT instructor in Jefferson County.

Fire Commissioner David Seabrook was nominated as chair at the fire department’s last meeting, and will be serving as chair in Johnson’s place.