Lewis County Fire Districts 5 and 6 are seeking a joint fire chief under a new “shared leadership model,” according to Prothman, the executive search firm leading the application process.
The search does not mean the districts intend to consolidate — at least not yet. According to the firm’s position profile, both will remain separate governmental entities with respective boards of commissioners, employees, budgets and “organizational responsibilities.”
The new chief will oversee both organizations. According to Prothman, Lewis County Fire District 6 (LCFD 6) will act as the lead agency.
“The shared leadership model is intended to strengthen coordination and collaboration while creating a foundation from which the districts may explore becoming a single agency in the future,” the position profile reads.
Lewis County Fire District 5 (LCFD 5) serves the Napavine area, while LCFD 6 serves the Adna community and surrounding areas of Chehalis. The combined districts cover roughly 219 square miles and respond to about 2,300 annual incidents.
“The chief oversees fire and emergency medical operations, personnel management, labor relations, training, budgeting and financial management, capital planning, fleet and facilities, fire prevention, policies and procedures, and other administrative functions,” the profile reads.
According to Prothman, the new chief will help finalize and implement a new interlocal agreement and will work with both boards to “establish clear roles, communication practices, decision-making processes and accountability under the new structure.”
The chief will also be tasked with providing “visible and consistent” leadership and strengthening the districts’ relationship with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 451, which represents firefighters in both districts.
Candidates are encouraged to apply by Oct. 4. To view the job posting, visit https://tinyurl.com/3x3sxsdw.
Annexation agreement
The new joint chief will take over two districts that, in April, reached a legal settlement with the City of Chehalis over the city’s annexation of its urban growth area (UGA). The UGA included parts of the two fire districts’ coverage areas. The annexation became official in June.
According to previous Chronicle reporting, the districts had claimed in a lawsuit that annexation would reduce their tax revenue and require them to transfer assets to city ownership, arguing the effects could lead to longer emergency response times and a drop in service quality.
As part of an annexation mitigation agreement, the city agreed to contract with each fire district for emergency services in the respective annexed areas they previously served. The contract will remain in place through 2027 and could extend through 2031, depending on whether the city shows the ability to provide services at the same level as the districts.
The city must also meet other requirements to terminate the agreement after 2027, such as establish and adequately staff a new Chehalis Fire Department substation in the annexed area.
Retention challenges
Both LCFD 5 and 6 are without acting fire chiefs. Former LCFD 5 Interim Fire Chief Gregg Peterson retired at the end of August, following his fourth stint leading the Napavine-based department. Peterson most recently succeeded Jonathan Beck in October 2025, after Beck’s contract was terminated by the board of commissioners without cause.
Beck had succeeded chiefs Brent Adams and Dan Mahoney, who saw their respective contracts terminated in April 2024 and June 2023. Both Beck’s and Adams’ posts lasted three months.
LCFD 6 has been without a chief since January. In April, the district scheduled a meet-and-greet for two finalists, following a search conducted by Prothman that began in January.
The district hired neither candidate.
LCFD 6 was last led by Jerry Cole, who served for a little less than a year following Jim Damico’s three-month stint with the department.
Damico had taken over from Paul Patterson, who resigned in August 2024. Patterson said he’d made the decision “under duress,” according to previous Chronicle reporting.
