Interim chief takes permanent post at Port Ludlow Fire District

Published 12:01 am Sunday, August 19, 2012

PORT LUDLOW — The Port Ludlow Fire District commissioners have named Interim Chief Brad Martin the department’s permanent chief.

Commissioners offered him the post Tuesday at their regular meeting.

“It’s an honor to be entrusted with such an exemplary organization,” Martin said.

“The men and women of Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue have true passion and belief in their jobs, which affords them the ability to set the bar high for the profession.”

Martin was hired in May 2011 as assistant chief to then-Chief Ed Wilkerson, who left the district in November 2011 to take the position of chief for Mountain Vista Fire District in Tucson, Ariz.

Martin unanimously was promoted to interim chief effective October 2011.

“The board is extremely pleased to offer Chief Martin the permanent position as fire chief for Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue,” said Ron Helmonds, chairman of the commission.

“Chief Martin has demonstrated his ability to take on a tremendous amount of responsibility over a short period of time while acting as the interim chief.

“He has demonstrated to us that he can lead the district and endeavors to reduce expenses to lessen the districts current shortfall.”

Martin is an experienced firefighter and paramedic with a bachelor’s degree from California State University in occupational studies and a master’s degree in fire service leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.

Martin also has multiple certifications as a chief officer, fire officer and for fire investigation, and is currently in the four-year executive fire officer program through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Martin and his wife, Sarah, live in Port Ludlow with their two sons, James, 6, and Calvin, 5, and their daughter Emma, 9 months old.