City scrutinizes public relations push by fire officials
March 29, 2010
NEW — 6:00 a.m. March 29, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue officials proposed public relations effort was met with scrutiny and support when presented at the agency’s March 11 board meeting.
New fire marshal comes to Eastside Fire & Rescue
March 24, 2010
NEW — 12:30 p.m. March 24, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue has filled its fire marshal position — and more.
Two head fire officials retire from Eastside Fire & Rescue
March 24, 2010
NEW — 12:30 p.m. March 24, 2010
A combined 19 years of experience leaves agency
Two central figures in Issaquah’s firefighting organization announced their retirement this month.
Tim Pilling, the fire marshal for Eastside Fire & Rescue, and Dave Gray, head financial officer for EFR, both retire at the end of March.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Griffin paid tribute to Pilling at the March 11 EFR meeting, pointing out that Pilling was the agency’s first fire marshal.
“He set the tone for future fire marshals,” Griffin said.
Mike Sauerwein, administrative services director for the city of Sammamish, said Pilling was instrumental in establishing the plateau’s Fourth of July celebrations.
“Tim played a huge role in making that a fun and safe event,” Sauerwein said.
Pilling has worked for EFR since the agency formed in 1999. Prior to his time with EFR, he worked for the now defunct Issaquah Fire Department, the city of Issaquah and the city of Bothell.
He became involved in fire protection while volunteering as an emergency medical technician in southern California.
As fire marshal, Pilling was responsible for overseeing inspections to make sure buildings met fire safety codes.
“It’s been an honor. It really has,” he said.
Pilling referenced the cost of fire protection services, something that has come under fire in the past year.
“We’re delivering a Cadillac product at Chevrolet prices,” he said. “It’s going to be my motto until they tell me to shut up.”
Gray’s departure comes without a replacement picked. Gray oversaw the fire protection agency’s budget. He was in charge of a new effort to revise the process by which the EFR board reviewed future spending and revenue.
He said he thought a change in practices made it perfect timing for someone else to take over. Gray has been with EFR for eight years.
“I’m leaving here with more than I brought,” he told the EFR board.
Prior to joining EFR, Gray had experience in the private and public sectors, including as chief accountant for the San Juan County’s Auditor’s Office, as accounting manager for the northwest division of General Foods-Phillip Morris and general manager of Acme Poultry.
J.B. Wogan: 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
New fire marshal comes to EFR
March 24, 2010
NEW — 6:00 a.m. March 24, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue has filled its fire marshal position — and more.
Eastside Fire & Rescue response times improve, overtime drops
March 10, 2010
NEW — 6:00 a.m. March 10, 2010
When Eastside Fire & Rescue Chief Lee Soptich finally had a chance to reflect on 2009, one he counts as the most stressful of any in his 24 years as a fire chief, he said it was a mixed bag.
EFR puts records on Web site to improve transparency
February 18, 2010
NEW — 10:40 a.m. Feb. 18, 2010
Following up on goals set in January, Eastside Fire & Rescue is in the process of uploading public records to its Web site in an effort to improve transparency.
EFR changes meeting dates and times
February 18, 2010
NEW — 10:39 a.m. Feb. 18, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue Board of Directors has new dates and times for its public meetings. The board will meet at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.
EFR changes meeting dates and times
February 14, 2010
NEW — 6:00 a.m. Feb. 14, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue has published new dates and times for its public meetings.
In an effort to increase transparency, EFR uploads records to Web site
February 13, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Feb. 13, 2010
In an effort to increase transparency and accessibility of public records, Eastside Fire & Rescue is uploading public records to its Web site.
EFR board meeting shows sign of change
January 27, 2010
NEW — 2:24 p.m. Jan. 27, 2010
Eastside Fire & Rescue officials took strides at their first board meeting to make good on promises of change. Read more
