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Fire District 13 Commission Chairman Larry Kibbee, under whose leadership the department has made key strides in his 15 months as chair, will be stepping away from public service next month.

Kibbee announced during the Fire District’s Zoom meeting Jan. 28 that he will vacate his commission seat effective March 1. He has already resigned as Region 5 representative with the Washington Fire Commissioners Association.

Kibbee plans to move outside the Fire District. He said he will elaborate more on his decision at the Feb. 25 commission meeting.

Commissioner Bruce Shellhamer will succeed Kibbee as chairman. He will work with Kibbee this month to transition into his new role.

“These are big shoes to fill,” Shellhamer said. “You (Kibbee) will certainly be missed here. We’re grateful for all you’ve done here.”

J.J. Wilbur was chosen to become vice-chairman. He, too, praised Kibbee’s efforts. “Larry has been a great leader,” Wilbur told the Weekly News. “I have learned a lot from him on how to conduct a meeting.”

No mention was made of how and when the commission vacancy will be filled.

Among initiatives launched with Kibbee at the helm is the District’s ongoing five-year plan. The plan is divided into three sections, the first of which – a detailed inventory, or current “snapshot,” of the District – will be fully completed by mid-February, Capt. Ted Taylor said in his update.

Phase Two of the plan will be projecting the status of District 13 in 2021. The third phase will be drafting a roadmap “for what we have to do to get from here to where we need to be,” Taylor said.

District 13 Fire Chief Wood Weiss offered a short report on another on-going project, an expansion of the Snee Oosh Road station. Plans to add a modular residence quarters remain in the permitting stage and waiting for a setback variance for the structure.

Weiss said an aid rig recently acquired by the district will soon be in service.

“Hopefully, in the next week, it should be up and running,” said Weiss. “If we have snow, it will be nice to have that four-wheel drive.”

“We look forward to getting it on the road,” Kibbee agreed. “It will be a big boon to our service.”

Weiss, in providing his regular pandemic report, shared his own experience with COVID-19 vaccination.

“The effect for me was more intense than others for a 24-hour period,” he said, noting a high fever and other discomfort. “But now I’m feeling better. I recommend getting the shot. It’s the best remedy (for COVID-19) that we have at this point.”

Weiss said the COVID-19 pandemic has “slowed down” emergency medical services and basic life support calls on the local, state, and national levels. He said service calls for District 13 in 2020 dipped 17%, down 230 from 2019 and transports fell 5%, down 12.

Weiss reported District 13 responded to 33 fires in 2020, fewer than half the number (68) that occurred in 2016. District firefighters were called to 41 blazes in 2019. Staff responded to 10 structure and four vehicle fires.

“The great news,” Weiss said, “is that local homes were less threatened by fire.”

In related notes:

• The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will be assisted with re-addressing requirements made necessary to implement Next Generation 9-1-1 service infrastructure.

• Commissioners named Drew Farrell to succeed Weiss as medical officer.

• Two 10-hour training sessions are scheduled Feb. 18-19 to help trainees fast track into their shifts.

• Lt. Gary Ladd was praised for personally checking on “Good Morning, District 13” participants unable to make contact during recent power outages stemming from the major windstorm that struck western Washington on Jan. 13.