LYNNWOOD — Lynnwood Fire Chief Gary Olson is going to have a proud moment next month.
His son, Garret Olson, 44, is set to be sworn in as the fire chief in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Garret Olson helped that city build a fire department from the ground up a few years back.
The fire service is in their blood. Gary Olson’s grandfather was a volunteer firefighter and a barber in Nebraska.
Another of Gary Olson’s sons, Geoffrey Olson, is a firefighter and union president in Bothell. The third son, Greg Olson, works in finance.
Garret Olson first tried the Air Force Academy but decided against finishing there, Gary Olson said.
“He said, ‘I don’t want to fly planes, I want to fight fire’,” Gary Olson said.
Garret Olson started as a dispatcher and then worked his way up to deputy fire chief in Mesa before going to Scottsdale.
He found out about the promotion earlier this summer and texted his parents.
“I was very pleased, and I almost popped five or six buttons,” Gary Olson said.
The firefighters in the family try not to talk shop at home.
One of the most important lessons Garret Olson learned from his dad was a commitment to family, he said. From that springs character and values.
“My dad has the most incredibly work ethic of anybody I’ve ever met, so I’ve learned the value of working really hard,” he said. “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well — I learned that from my dad.”
The family is planning a special presentation at the swearing-in ceremony in Scottsdale in a few weeks.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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