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No amount of rain was going to dampen spirits at the Skagit County Fire District 13 Open House Saturday.

That is because the event’s guest of honor, retired fire district commissioner and former Shelter Bay resident Larry Kibbee, has long been admired for his sunny disposition.

Kibbee served six years on the fire district’s governing panel prior to moving to Bothell. He returned to the Snee Oosh Road station for the formal dedication of a new residential building that bears his name.

“I wouldn’t have missed it,” Kibbee told the Weekly News afterward. “It’s a super facility.”

Following a brief outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony, abbreviated due to steadily increasing rainfall, those in attendance were invited to tour the spacious modular building.

Plans for the on-site housing, an on-the-job home away from home for district firefighters and emergency medical personnel, have been in the works for several years – dating to Kibbee’s tenure as commissioner – but were stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The long-awaited open house was a festive occasion despite the gray, drizzly conditions.

Commission chair Bruce Shellhamer donned his chef’s hat and cooked hot dogs inside the fire station for the large gathering on hand to support Kibbee and the fire department’s mission, which was in full display as crews rolled on several calls during the gathering.

Folks enjoyed lunch, including cake, collected emergency preparedness materials and mixed-and-mingled before meeting in front of the new Larry Kibbee Residential Unit for the dedication.

“This will be a residence for our firefighters and EMTs (emergency medical technicians) so we can serve the district with a 24-hour system,” said fire chief Wood Weiss.

Weiss described Kibbee as having been an outstanding boss who has remained a valued friend.

“He was a wonderful leader for this district and community,” Weiss said of Kibbee.

Commissioner J.J. Wilbur, who is also a Swinomish Indian Tribal Community senator and La Conner school board member, echoed those sentiments.

Wilbur and Alana Quintasket, the tribal senate’s vice-chair, expressed gratitude for the bonds linking Swinomish and the fire district, then performed a blessing song

ahead of the ribbon cutting.

“The relationship between Swinomish and Fire District 13 is an important one,” Wilbur stressed.

“We’re so appreciative of Fire District 13 and all they do for the community,” Quintasket added. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the awesome team they have.”

Father Mel Strazicich offered a prayer amid the rain, then quipped that he wouldn’t be sprinkling water as part of the dedication.

Kibbie was moved by the proceedings. Afterward he praised the fire district as “an amazing organization” and lauded the devotion of its personnel, expressing appreciation for having been able to work with Weiss, retired chief Roy Horn, Shellhamer, Wilbur, former commissioner Arne Fohn and the panel’s late chair Chuck Hedlund, among others.

Kibbee conceded he had little background in or knowledge of the fire service when, having previously served on the Shelter Bay board of directors, he stepped up to join the three-member fire commission. He immediately began doing his research and proved a quick study.

Not only did Kibbie help steward the fire district through a period of growth but became a mainstay at Washington Fire Commissioners Association conventions.

His admiration is endless for those who run toward rather than away from danger.

“They’re dedicated to the health and safety of the community,” Kibbee said of the district’s firefighters and emergency medical staff. “They’re great people.”

Judging by what transpired Saturday, the feeling is mutual.