Kent-based Puget Sound Fire honors this year’s 20 retirees

Twenty Kent-based Puget Sound Fire employees, including 17 firefighters, who retired this year were recently honored for their service.

Eleven of the firefighters worked for 30 or more years, including three who reached the 35-year mark, according to Puget Sound Fire. Six more firefighters worked between 24 and 28 years.

Puget Sound Fire, Puget Sound Firefighters Local 1747 and the Puget Sound Firefighters Foundation honored 20 staff members with a retirement ceremony Oct. 19 at Lake Wilderness Lodge in Maple Valley.

The number of retirements is comparable to 2023 when 18 department members retired, said Puget Sound Fire spokesperson Pat Pawlak in an Oct. 28 email.

“All the positions will be filled,” Pawlak said.

Puget Sound Fire has 457 employees. There are 352 uniform employees and 105 non-uniform employees.

The agency serves the residents of Covington, Kent, Maple Valley, SeaTac, Tukwila and the unincorporated areas of King County Fire District No. 37 and King County Fire District No. 43. The agency provides emergency and nonemergency services to over 120 square miles of property, protecting a population of more than 260,000.

The city of Kent had its own fire department until voters in 2009 approved a regional fire authority merging the Kent Fire Department and King County Fire District 37. The Kent Regional Fire Authority was renamed in 2017 to the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, which now contracts with several cities to provide fire service.

During the ceremony, Puget Sound Fire Chief Brian Carson and Puget Sound Firefighters 1747 Vice President Cody Boyd recognized each retiree and presented those present with their shadow box and/or retirement axe. A shadow box is a small display case that includes badges and other items.

The retirees are:

• Battalion Chief Jack Waller (35 years)

• Division Chief Jeff DiDonato (35 years)

• Battalion Chief Brian Dodge (34 years)

• Capt. Bill Rodal (35 years)

• Capt. John Wilkins (32 years)

• Capt. Brian Bailie (28 years)

• Capt. Felicia Beluche (25 years)

• Capt. Matt Madlem (24 years)

• Engineer Greg Johnson (34 years)

• Engineer PJ Knowles (33 years)

• Engineer Monte Catlin (32 years)

• Engineer Matt Czuleger (32 years)

• Engineer Richard Knight (32 years)

• Engineer Bert Warm (30 years)

• Engineer Shawn Dailey (28 years)

• Engineer Dan McCone (27 years)

• Engineer Kelley Jensen (26 years)

• Public Educator Melanie Taylor (18 years)

• Finance Director Lavina Brennecke (4 years)

• Mechanic Wilbur Lee (3 years)