PORT TOWNSEND — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue could have a new fire chief as early as today, which would allow current Chief Gordon Pomeroy to retire at the end of the year after eight years of serving as chief.
The East Jefferson Fire-Rescue (EJFR) board interviewed three candidates Friday, according to Bill Beezley, communications coordinator for EJFR.
All three candidates came to Port Townsend from out of state to go through the interview process, which included a tactical exercise and an interview in front of a panel.
Beezley said the board hopes to make a decision by today, either to extend a job offer to one of the three candidates interviewed or to reopen the application process and keep looking for candidates.
“We’re not necessarily set on hiring one of these three,” Beezley said.
EJFR closed the first round of applications in late August and received 22 applications for the position. Since then, the board has narrowed down those applications to the three brought in for interviews Friday.
Pomeroy is scheduled to retire at the end of the year but could stay on longer if a new chief hasn’t been hired.
Pomeroy started at EJFR in 2008 as the head of its EMS Critical Care Transportation Division.
Interim chief
After less than a year in that position, Pomeroy took over as interim chief in September 2008 after former Chief Chuck Tandy was asked to step down by the department board.
In December 2009, Pomeroy was named chief of EJFR District 1 after an executive session of the district commissioners.
Before coming to Jefferson County, Pomeroy worked with private companies on DNA-identification processes and worked for more than 30 years as an emergency medical technician, paramedic and instructor at the Shoreline Fire Department in North Seattle.
Pomeroy received his initial training at Harborview Medical Center through the University of Washington in 1980.
If a decision is made today, the board could discuss the new fire chief at its next meeting.
The special meeting and public hearing on the 2018 budget will be held Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. at the fire station at 35 Critter Lane in Port Townsend.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
