Gig Harbor Picks New Fire Chief

GIG HARBOR, WA — Gig Harbor has chosen its next Fire Chief.

Dennis Doan, the former Fire Chief for the Boise Fire Department, will be the next man to lead Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One. According to the fire department, Doan served Boise Fire for 29 years, 12 as its Fire Chief. He also founded and helmed the Southwest Idaho Fire & EMS Chiefs Association.

Gig Harbor Fire had previously narrowed the field of Fire Chief candidates to just three: Doan, Dan Bjurstrom and Todd Meyer. Both Bjurstrom and Meyer currently work for Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One: Bjurstrom is the department's Assistant Chief of Finance and Administration, Meyer is the Assistant Chief of Operations.

However, at a Board Meeting Wednesday, commissioners unanimously announced that they had selected Doan to be the next head of Gig Harbor Fire. Doan had previously also received the endorsement of Gig Harbor Professional Firefighters of Local 3390 citing his "tremendous level of experience" and "proven track record" as reason for his selection.

Doan will replace the current Chief, John Burgess, when Burgess retires on April 1, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. Burgess had helmed Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One since 2011.