Carson replaces retiring Morris as Kent-based Puget Sound Fire chief

Brian Carson, a longtime member of the former SeaTac Fire Department, is the new Kent-based Puget Sound Fire chief.

Carson, who has promoted from his job as an assistant chief with Puget Sound Fire, replaces Matthew Morris, who has retired after more than five years as chief.

A Change of Command ceremony Thursday, Feb. 16 at Station 74, 24611 116th Ave. SE, the headquarters for Puget Sound Fire, made the move official.

“I believe we exist to serve,” Carson said in a prepared statement. “We have an incredible team at Puget Sound Fire that believes the same and provides exceptional service to our communities. I am always guided by our four strategic goals – taking care of our communities, taking care of our staff, building connections in the community and ensuring we are a resilient, sustainable organization.”

Carson was hired in 1992 by the city of SeaTac. He became part of Puget Sound Fire in 2014 when the city of SeaTac signed a 20-year contract with the agency to provide fire and emergency medical services.

Since joining Puget Sound Fire, Carson has worked as a captain, battalion chief of the Operations Division, a deputy chief in the South King County Fire Training Consortium and most recently as the assistant chief of Operations.

“I owe a profound thanks to Chief Matt Morris,” said Carson, a 31-year veteran with the two fire departments. “He (Morris) led Puget Sound Fire through two contracts for service, the implementation of an enterprise resource planning and management software and vast process improvement. Nearly half of his time here was made more challenging by the Covid pandemic, and yet the organization grew tremendously under his leadership. He has made me a better chief officer, and I wish him a long, peaceful, healthy retirement.”

Carson will oversee a staff of more than 450 firefighters and non-uniformed support personnel, who provides fire suppression, technical and water rescue, FD Cares, fire prevention, public education, hazardous materials response and emergency medical services to the communities of Covington, Kent, Maple Valley, SeaTac, Tukwila and King County Fire Districts 37 and 43.

Puget Sound Fire operates 17 fire stations and is responsible for providing service to a population of more than 260,000 in an area covering 120 square miles.

The Puget Sound Fire Governance Board appointed Carson to replace Morris. The board includes three Kent City Council members, three Fire District 37 commissioners and non-voting advisory members from Covington, SeaTac, Tukwila and Fire District 43.

Carson is the fifth Kent chief in the last 58 years, following in the footsteps of Tom Foster, Norm Angelo, Jim Schneider and Morris.

Voters in Kent, Covington and Fire District 37 approved the formation of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) in 2010 when the fire department split off from the city of Kent. The agency initially used the name of Kent Fire Department before later adding RFA and in 2017 changing its name to Puget Sound Fire.

The agency is funded by a property tax as well as a fire benefit charge (fee) against each property owner based on how much fire response it would take to combat a fire at a specific residence or business.

Morris retires

Morris became chief in September 2017. He replaced Schneider who retired after 15 years as chief.

The Puget Sound Fire board hired Morris from the Henderson (Nevada) Fire Department where he had worked since 1996 and became chief in 2016. He worked in the fire service for 33 years.

Morris described his experience with Puget Sound Fire as “being part of an incredible team of professionals who are committed to taking care of people and exceeding the needs of the communities we serve.”

Morris praised the work of Carson.

“Brian is a person of character and compassion,” Morris said. “He is an authentic leader who is dedicated to this organization and the people he serves.”

A Puget Sound Fire statement listed numerous accomplishments by Morris during his five-plus years, including:

• Established expanded medical physicals to ensure the health and well-being for all members; added additional emergency response and heavy rescue apparatus; successfully negotiated contracts for service with King County Fire District 43 and the city of Tukwila; restructured the contract with the city of SeaTac for fire and EMS services; established an independent Information Technology Division.

• Enhanced the department’s financial sustainability; succeeded in passing a voter-approved permanent fire benefit charge in 2021; succeeded in passing a voter-approved levy lid lift in 2019; and created a succession plan for all positions in the organization.

Morris encourages the agency to, “Stay focused on the ‘why’ at all times, and to take care of people with compassion and professionalism.”

In retirement, Morris said he plans to travel, spend time with family and invest in his health and wellness

Megan Carson, the wife of new Puget Sound Fire Chief Brian Carson, pins his badge on after he was sworn in as chief Feb. 16. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire

Les Thomas, chair of the Puget Sound Fire Governance Board, swears in new Chief Brian Carson. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire