A time of transition for Chelan Fire and Rescue
by Dennis Rahm
Chelan Fire and Rescue Chief Tim Lemon has officially resigned and will leave his position at the end of this month. The retirement of Lemon as Chief of Fire District 7 has been known for several months as he first announced in March that he would be leaving at the end of the year.
While departing five months earlier than planned, he won’t actually be retiring after all. Lemon just recently accepted the job as Chief of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue on Whidbey Island. The new job allows Lemon to be closer to family at a time when his wife is caring for her mother at her home on Whidbey Island.
Lemon tells LakeChelanNow that he was contacted about the opening and that once he applied things moved quickly. With Deputy Chief Mark Donnell in line to become the new Fire Chief, Lemon is confident of a smooth transition in leadership.
Duties are being transferred to Deputy Chief
While excited about a new opportunity, Chief Lemon stressed that he and his wife have thoroughly enjoyed their time in Chelan where he has spent 10-years of his 40-year firefighting career.
“We’ve got great people doing great things” — Chief Lemon
Meanwhile, Chelan County Fire District 7 commissioners met in a special session on Wednesday, July 24 to appoint Mark Donnell as Interim Fire Chief through the end of the year.
Fire Commissioner Russ Jones indicated that the plan is for Donnell, the current Deputy Chief, to be named permanent Fire Chief beginning the first of the year. The department plans to eliminate the Deputy Chief position as a cost saving measure. Earlier this month, Lt. Evan Woods also retired and according to Jones that position will likely be filled by the end of this summer.
