January 1, 2023

Today is a bittersweet day for us. Effective at Midnight last night, our Fire Chief Ron Duncan has officially retired.

Chief Duncan started his career with Fire District 2 on August 1, 1985 as a volunteer firefighter. In 1990, Ron was promoted to the rank of volunteer lieutenant. On March 4th, 1991 Ron applied for and was appointed to the full time position of Maintenance Officer/Fire Inspector.

In March of 1995, at the age of 27, Ron was promoted to Fire Chief, and has held that position for the last 27 years. At the time of his promotion, he was the youngest paid Fire Chief in the nation (or so the story goes.)

Chief Duncan has had an incredible impact on our Fire Department, the Benton City area, as well as the fire and EMS system in the greater Columbia Basin. Normally, we would share a list of his accomplishments, however there are far too many to list. Notably, he accomplished completely turning around the finances of our fire district to a healthy, balanced budget; building two fire stations, numerous apparatus upgrades and replacements, the development of specialty teams, and the addition of 24 hour career staffing to protect our community. Words cannot express our gratitude for his tireless service. Mind you, he did all of this while maintaining and excelling with a career at the Richland Fire Department as well.

Chief Duncan, we wish you the best in a long and healthy retirement. Remember- we're always here and the coffee is always hot.

Effective last night at midnight, Assistant Chief Dennis Bates was promoted and assumed the duties of Fire Chief. We look forward to continuing to serve and protect our community and the surrounding areas under the experienced leadership of Chief Bates.

 

Thank You Chief Duncan
for your 37 years of service
1985-2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact the Benton County Clean Air Authority to find out. 
Then contact us here at (509) 588-3212 to let us know you are burning today!

Residential Burn Line (509) 783-6198
Agricultural Burn Line (509) 783-6570

More info at http://bentoncleanair.org/index.php/burning/outdoor-burning/

Daily Burn Decision  http://bentoncleanair.org/index.php/burning/burndecision/

 

 

 

 

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”
– Thomas Jefferson

 

 

 

CREATE A WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN

Your Wildfire Action Plan must be prepared, and familiar to all members of your household well in advance of a wildfire.

https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-set/wildfire-action-plan/?fbclid=IwAR3vfE1Yooy1JSkVkWnJGnyHcfcOfipLVJAKdXGYMECW8YNzSzzVEI6MenU

 

 

Plan and practice home fire drills at least twice a year. Make sure you know two ways out of each room. 

More fire safety information at http://www.usfa.fema.gov.

 

 

Washington Smoke Information
http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

 
 

 

 
Current Wildfire Activity
Click map below to find current wildfires activity across the U.S.

The map is updated every 24 hours and developed by GeoMAC.
 
 

 

Virtual Meeting Information

Commissioners' Meetings will be AUDIO ONLY virtually to the public.
Please access our virtual meeting link for zoom meeting information to join in.

 

 

 

 

 

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