Lake Stevens fire chief ousted

LAKE STEVENS — Snohomish County Fire District 8 has severed ties with its fire chief, but no one has said exactly why.

Gary Faucett was fired Thursday following a vote by the three-member district board during a special meeting.

“The motion was to terminate without cause,” fire commissioner Vern Foster said Tuesday.

The vote was 2-0. Foster said he abstained.

“I wasn’t at the same place in my mind as far as options,” Foster said. “I wasn’t ready to vote for that. I thought, ‘Let’s give it more time and explore some things.’ There was a majority feeling that we were not going to change anything.”

Foster said a “no cause” clause in Faucett’s contract allowed the board to terminate the contract without specified reasons.

An official statement came out Tuesday night, after calls from The Herald.

“Members of Lake Stevens Fire wish Chief Faucett well in his future endeavors and appreciate the remarkable progress the department has made over the last (five and a half) years under his leadership,” the statement read. “His 31-plus years in fire service is quite a legacy.”

The board called Faucett while he was on vacation last week to let him know of the decision, Deputy Chief Dave Lingenfelter said Tuesday.

“The board felt it wanted to go into a different direction, and that’s the course they took,” he said.

Lingenfelter is serving as interim chief.

Fire District 8 is the fifth-largest fire department in Snohomish County. Faucett began as chief there in April 2005.

For more than 25 years, he worked for South Kitsap Fire and Rescue. He had been the deputy chief of operations for several years before coming to Lake Stevens.

At the time of his hiring, Faucett said his role was to create a vision for the future. He said he wanted a department with open communication and a staff that was prepared for the future.

District leaders then said he was chosen in large part for his team-building skills and his experience in working with neighboring fire departments.

Foster said Faucett was well-liked by many people in the community.

“The bottom line is it was time for a change and that’s how the majority went,” Foster said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.