Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue has hired former Port Angeles Fire Department Lt. Jake Patterson to become deputy fire chief of the rural fire district that surrounds Port Angeles. Patterson, 45, will begin in the new position Jan. 17. As deputy fire chief, Patterson will be responsible for the day to day operation of the district including, oversight of emergency operations, staffing, fleet and facilities within the district.

Chief Sam Phillips cited the increasing demands and growth of the fire district as a primary reason to select Patterson. “Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue responded to a record number of emergencies in 2016. With 1,549 emergency calls for service in 2016, we need to be able to meet the needs of the community and having one more full-time chief officer brings us back up to full strength like we were in 2010,” said Phillips.

Patterson brings with him 26 years of fire service experience according to Phillips. This brings the number of full-time firefighters within the fire district to eight with six of those on the line responding to emergencies every day. He began his fire service career 27 years ago as an aircraft firefighter and rescue specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps. After his Marine Corps service ended, he became a wildland firefighter at Olympic National Park. In 1992, Patterson joined Port Angeles Fire Department as a volunteer. In 1994, he relocated to Richland, where he became a full-time structural firefighter and earned his Paramedic certification.

By 2000, Patterson returned to Port Angeles Fire Department where he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2007. He has experience in wildland firefighting operations; instructing recruits in fire academy; he has authored several successful grant requests and managed live fire training exercises. One of Patterson’s greatest passions is working with young adults in the Fire Explorer Post and the Civil Air Patrol.

He lives in Sequim with his wife Danielle and two high school age daughters.