CAMANO ISLAND – Tom Fields, Camano Island’s fire chief for the past four years, has resigned to take a position as chief of North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, which is closer to his home in south Whatcom County.
That proximity has a lot to do with why he’s leaving Camano, he said. He wants to be closer to home, particularly after recent health issues have made the long commute more stressful, he said.
He emphasized that he was leaving on good terms with Camano Fire and Rescue.
“If I could, I would take the board and the firefighters and volunteers and the staff with me,” Fields said. “It’s a very strong department.”
His last day will be June 11 unless Camano Fire and Rescue finds someone sooner.
The Camano district commissioners have not formally interviewed anyone but have talked with a couple of people, said Loren Murray, one of the commissioners.
One of them was Mike Ganz, who resigned earlier this year as chief of the Arlington Fire Department. Ganz lives on Camano Island.
That may be an advantage. Fields said people on Camano sometimes expressed concern that he didn’t live on the island.
Murray said the fire commissioners had no problem with Fields, and that his leaving was strictly for personal reasons.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
