Fire District 13 Chief Roy Horn retiring

An era ends at year’s end when Roy Horn retires as Skagit County Fire District 13’s fire chief. The District’s Commissioners accepted his resignation Thursday at the end of their monthly meeting.

Horn has been chief for 17 years. He created the largest volunteer fire department in Skagit County, with a 2019 budget of $803,000. The District’s 2003 budget was $321,000.

This is the third year in a row Horn has offered to retire. “It is time. It is time for new blood,” he told the Weekly News Friday.

His proudest accomplishments include 24 hour, daily, 24/7, volunteer staffing of the Snee Oosh Road fire station; their under five minute response time in Shelter Bay and the Village/reservation and having 12 Skagit Valley College students on full scholarships training with his department.

County Commissioner Ron Wesen praised Horn for developing the BLS, Basic Life support, system in the district as part of a county wide ambulance system and said, “I think he has done a great job all the years of service to Fire District 13.”