11/02/2006: "The Time Is Finally Right"

By Becky Rusnak

I am writing to anyone who has an interest in making San Juan Island a safer place to live and love. With the recent news of Chief Bill McLaughlin's resignation, coupled with the current recruiting efforts of the Town of Friday Harbor to find a Fire Chief, this is the perfect time to encourage the Town of Friday Harbor and San Juan County Fire District #3 Fire Commission to merge the two departments under positive, well-respected, and experienced leadership.

Chief Robert Low currently holds the position of Fire Marshall for SJI. Chief Low was Fire Chief for the Town of Friday Harbor Fire Department for many years. I had the opportunity to work under Chief Low's Command and I found his experience and leadership to be invaluable. Chief Low had complete respect from his firefighters and officer corps – something that is essential in the fire service.

Among Chief Low's accolades as Fire Chief include the fact that he was selected to participate in a Leadership in the Fire Service seminar presented by the Washington State Patrol Field Operations Bureau and The Office of the State Fire Marshal. Participation in the event was by invitation only and was taught by nationally acclaimed Phoenix Fire Department Chief Alan Brunicini.

I once heard Chief Low say that "while we are fighting a fire, we tend to forget there is someone standing there watching things go terribly wrong in their lives. We need remember that our job is much more than just putting the fire out". For me, this hits the nail on the head about who we need as our SJI Fire Chief – someone who is technically capable of "putting the fire out" and who understands the "human side" of a catastrophe.

Chief Low "practices what he preaches". He coordinated and participated in building a wheelchair ramp on a freezing cold winter morning for a citizen who called us for a chimney fire the week before. She didn't ask for a ramp, but Chief Low recognized that she needed one and he built it just the same.

He rebuilt a garage that was destroyed during a 4:00 am fire for a citizen. She didn't ask that the garage be rebuilt, but Chief Low knew it needed to be done.

He spent countless nights on the Friday Harbor boat doc just to make sure those returning from a rescue returned safely.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. We have the perfect person to provide leadership to take care of our homes, our property, our pets, and our lives right in Friday Harbor. So take a look at your house, your car, your antique china, your dog or cat, your child, your neighbor – and ask yourself what you can do to make SJI a safer place.

I encourage the Town of Friday Harbor and San Juan County Fire District #3 to merge Fire Departments under the leadership of Chief Robert Low. The time is finally right. It's not about money. It's not about politics. It's about who can lead the nearly 100 volunteers while understanding the human impact of tragedy. Chief Low can do that.

(Becky Rusnak is the former Human Resources Director for San Juan County)