FD 13 consultant is former assistant fire chief

New hire, familiar face.

John Tanaka, who was its assistant chief a decade ago, is returning to Skagit County Fire District 13 near La Conner as a paid consultant to help develop long-range plans for expanded services.

Tanaka's resume is filled with fire service experience.

Along with his stint with District 13, Tanaka has been a fire captain in Everett, a fire response lecturer and instructor, a consultant to several other departments and consulted on a project to rebuild statewide firefighting training procedures.

Fire District 13 Commission Chair Bruce Tanaka's expertise will be tapped to assist the district as it navigates what he called "a season of change."

At the Aug. 8 public meeting Shellhamer said that money had been budgeted to fill a district executive assistant/interim assistant fire chief position.

The district, whose coverage area is comprised of Swinomish Reservation and rural La Conner, has launched several new initiatives.

It has increased staffing and invested resources to man a proactive CARES (Community Assistance Referral and Education Services) program and station firefighting and emergency medical teams twice weekly at Summit Park.

Its crews conducted a major multi-agency wildland fire training and evacuation exercise and entered preliminary talks with Town of La Conner officials about potentially teaming to form a joint regional fire protection authority.

"We're working on the semantics (of Tanaka's role)," said Shellhamer.

Tanaka told the Weekly News afterward that he considers himself a consultant and will split time between tours at the district's Snee-Oosh Road offices and working remotely.

"Hopefully, at the end of a six-month period," said Fire Chief Wood Weiss, "John will help me choose an assistant chief. We have a lot of good people here. I'm hopeful that a year from now you can look back at some good big changes."

"I'm good with it," Commissioner J.J. Wilbur said before the unanimous vote. He was one of the few people attending who had not previously worked with Tanaka. "I would love to see the fire district build up and have a lot of full-time firefighters."

Commissioner John Doyle noted the fortunate timing of Tanaka returning to the district fold. The district is in the second year of a five-year strategic plan designed to guide its direction and allocation of resources.

"It's important to establish goals and objectives and how to measure them," Doyle stressed.

"Setting a good foundation in policies and procedures has been a big part of my career," Tanaka said. "I know just about everybody at this table and we can work together to keep all our strength going forward.

Doyle expressed optimism that the district and Town of La Conner can reach an accord whereby their respective fire services work in concert and avoid duplication and redundancy issues.

"Economically," Doyle said, "it makes sense. We're not in any hurry to do anything, but again, it has always made sense economically."

Doyle said he and Weiss were scheduled to meet later that day with Town Administrator Scott Thomas and Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra.

Weiss and training officer Chris Olbu provided initial positive reviews of scheduling personnel shifts at Summit Park, begun on a trial basis in mid-June.

"We were very busy (in June," Olbu confirmed. "It has been a little slower this month, but it's something that has been helping the community."

"So far," echoed Weiss, "it's been a success. At some point, we'll probably have to look at the possibility of expanding the program."

Weiss reported that a district crew led by battalion chief Jamie Jurdi was mobilized as part of the 750-member firefighter force battling the Stehekin wildfire in central Washington.

"Jamie called last Friday," Weiss said, "but I haven't heard from him in a couple days. They've been busy."

Capt. Ted Taylor, the district's emergency management coordinator, said efforts continue to craft an evacuation plan for Shelter Bay and Swinomish Village in the event of a swift-moving wildfire or other natural disaster.