MARYSVILLE — The finalists for Marysville’s next fire chief found themselves being asked to compare themselves to fire equipment in the midst of a July 23 meet-and-greet with the public. The candidates were to face their July 24 interviews with city officials.
Out of a pool of 31 applicants, the candidates were winnowed down to eight who interacted with visitors to Marysville Fire District Station 62.
F. David Burke has been the fire chief for King County Fire District 45 in Duvall for more than four of the dozen years he’s served there. He brings with him 28 years of fire service.
Burke likened his role as chief to that of hood ornaments bearing the labels of a fire department, “because I’m not essential, not in the way that our support staff, labor, volunteers and admin personnel are. My job is to represent the brand of the department, from top to bottom, in as great a way as possible.”
Brent Christopherson has served the Missoula Rural Fire District in Montana since starting there as a deputy chief in 2007, and has been its assistant chief since 2010. His 32 years of fire service have given him experience with departments encompassing hundreds of people each, as well as an estimated $1.5 million in grants that he’s written.
“I’d go with a radio, because communication is something that we should all strive to do better,” Christopherson said.
In his more than 21 years with the Marysville Fire District, K. Scott Goodale has served as a firefighter for eight years, a captain for more than four and a battalion chief since 2006. He’s also headed up Snohomish County’s technical rescue team, rewriting many of the ways in which they respond.
“I’d be the engine, because it has everything that you need,” Goodale said. “Everything we do, we need to do as a team. It involves everybody, from labor to admin.”
Out of Darryl Neuhoff’s 32 years in the fire service, 27 as a chief officer, he’s been a division chief at Marysville since 1998. He previously served as fire chief for 11 of the 15 years that he was part of Snohomish County Fire District 20.
“I’d be an axe, because it’s a traditional piece of equipment that’s always handy,” Neuhoff said. “It always works, it never fails, it has multiple uses, and it’s sharp. My leadership style is like that. I’m decisive and honest.”
Jeffrey Cole grew up in Marysville and started as a firefighter here in 1997, working his way up to captain, then to battalion chief in 2008.
“I have extended family all around this area, so I have a vested interest in seeing this department succeed,” Cole said. “I’m like a siren, because I’m unassuming until you hit the button.”
Lawrence Rude retired from the Renton Fire Department as its deputy fire chief after 27 years of service, then served as deputy fire chief for Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety for another three years.
Rude chose to compare himself to the goggles on a hazardous materials suit, “because I can see what the future could be, and should be, in the long run.”
Scott Lewis followed his 20 years with the Fairborn Fire Department in Ohio with 11 years as part of Gresham Fire and Emergency Services, where he’s served as a deputy fire chief from 2003-05, fire chief from 2005-13, and as a division chief since then.
“Marysville is on the verge of great things,” said Lewis, who likened himself to a heavy-duty firefighter’s toolbox. “You can use it to get through a wall. You make connections by moving through.”
Martin McFalls is a 27-year veteran of the Marysville Fire District whose six years as assistant fire chief have culminated in serving as interim fire chief in the wake of Greg Corn’s retirement earlier this year.
“Marysville has a bright future,” McFalls said. “I’d want to be a ladder, helping to bridge the community. I already know everyone around town, and I love Marysville.”
