Chelan County Fire District #3 opens hiring process for new fire chief

LEAVENWORTH — Chelan County Fire District #3 is looking for its next fire chief following the retirement of Fire Chief Kelly O’Brien.

The district recently announced the position, offering a salary range of $130,000-$140,000 plus benefits, with applications due Aug. 14. District officials described the position as requiring a “hands-on leadership style and experience balancing career and volunteer staff.”

The incoming fire chief will be responsible for managing all paid and volunteer personnel, overseeing district operations and budgeting, maintaining community and regional partnerships and responding to major incidents when available.

According to the job description, the district is seeking a candidate with experience in wildland and wildland-urban interface firefighting, incident management, collective bargaining and personnel development.

“It's a very important position, and we are one of the more unique districts,” said Commissioner Mahala Murphy-Martin.

In addition to the approximate 5,000 residents within its boundaries, the district also serves the needs of roughly 3.4 million tourists that come to Leavenworth each year. In addition to fire suppression, the district operates a snowmobile rescue program, swift-water rescue program, provides extrication services to the Blewett Pass area, and has backup ambulance service for Cascade Medical Center.

According to the job posting, the district currently operates with 8.5 full-time equivalent positions and a 2026 budget of approximately $1.7 million. The district also noted it recently formed an IAFF union representing career staff.

“We want to assure the community that we are doing our due diligence to find the very best person that we can to fill the big shoes that Kelly [O’Brien] will be leaving,” said Murphy-Martin.

O’Brien announced his retirement in late 2024, but has since stayed on with the district in a part-time capacity. District leadership said the decision to rehire O’Brien was to help maintain continuity within the department during a series of recent staff promotions.

“They had been working under my mentorship for about a year and a half, so we wanted to continue to give them the opportunity to grow into their positions without the stress of going through a new leadership change,” said O’Brien.

“It's definitely given us this ability to have some stability, and for those newer positioned people to gain more experience, which is very important,” added Murphy-Martin.

O’Brien is helping facilitate the transition before he plans to officially leave at the end of the year.

“I hope that it's seamless. That would be my goal as the sitting chief, is to make sure that the incoming chief has whatever information and things that he needs from me,” said O’Brien. “I think the health of the district is as good as it's ever been. I’m really pleased with what we've been able to accomplish.”

Once the application closes on Aug. 14, Murphy-Martin said the hiring process will involve the commissioners and a committee of representatives from various district-related entities. Murphy-Martin said the commissioners were committed to a transparent process, inviting the public to attend commissioner meetings to stay updated.

“They certainly will be kept informed as we go along,” said Murphy-Martin.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media