On July 1st, Deputy Chief Tim Day will begin a new chapter with the Valley Regional Fire Authority. Day was appointed Fire Chief by the VRFA’s Board of Governance in April after Chief Brad Thompson announced his retirement. Reflecting on the transition, outgoing Chief Thompson shared, “It has been my privilege to serve alongside Tim Day for many years and to learn from his character, leadership, and dedication to public service. There is no one better prepared to lead the Valley Regional Fire Authority into its next chapter, and I’m excited to see all that will be accomplished under his leadership.”

Day has a long history of serving the Algona, Auburn, and Pacific communities. Hired by the legacy Auburn Fire Department on April 29, 1996, Day moved up the ranks to Captain in 2002, Battalion Chief in 2009, and Deputy Chief in 2015. In 2017, Day accepted a Deputy Chief of Operations position with the Kirkland Fire Department, but his heart had always been with VRFA and the communities we serve. So, when the Deputy Chief of Community Risk Reduction (CRR) position opened in 2022, he didn’t hesitate to throw his hat into the ring so he could return to the VRFA.

“A full-circle moment” is how Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Chair of the VRFA Governance Board, describes Day’s story: “Tim Day’s story with the Valley Regional Fire Authority is really a full-circle moment. He began his career serving this community, grew as a leader here, and recently returned with more experience and purpose — and now he’s leading the whole thing! I have known Tim for many years, and what has always stood out to me is his calm presence and deep understanding of what public safety means at the community level. He knows Auburn, he knows VRFA, and I believe he is exactly the right person to lead this organization into the future.”

As the CRR Deputy Chief, Day was a key contributor in the successful Prop 1 ballot initiative to fund the VRFA’s Capital Facilities plan, and currently coordinates the projects funded by that bond. He has also driven staffing and development in emergency management, records, facilities, mobile integrated health, and EMS. In his position with Kirkland Fire, he gained valuable experience on the operations side of the fire service, including emergency response management, training and safety, and labor relations. In addition, throughout his career, Day has served on various committees and grant-writing projects that have enhanced his preparation for the role of Fire Chief. Day holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in public administration, completed the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy, and is a graduate of the UW Foster School of Business Executive Leadership Academy.

As Fire Chief, Day plans to lead with clarity of purpose, make data-driven decisions, and invest in VRFA’s people. “I believe the strongest organizations are those where employees understand not only what we are doing, but why we are doing it,” says Day. “By providing clear intent, we empower those closest to the work to make informed decisions that support our mission, vision, and values, and deliver the highest level of service to our community.” Day also believes decisions should be driven by reliable data rather than tradition or intuition, allowing us to continually improve our services, strengthen accountability, and be responsible stewards of the public’s trust and resources.

Day is committed to building strong connections with the community by being present, visible, and actively participating in community and civic events. He emphasizes that it is vital for both him and the entire VRFA organization to stay engaged, so they can better understand the community’s needs and determine how to serve them most effectively. Day wants the community to know that VRFA’s team members are highly skilled, thoughtful, compassionate, and deeply dedicated to fulfilling the organization’s mission of serving the entire community.

Day recognizes several key challenges ahead: balancing growing service demands with responsible fiscal stewardship; recruiting and developing the next generation of firefighters and leaders; maintaining strong relationships with community partners; and ensuring the organization remains well-trained, well-equipped, and prepared to meet the community’s evolving needs. To address these challenges, he plans to lead with a clear purpose, use data-driven decision-making, and empower VRFA staff to achieve the goals outlined in the organization’s Strategic Plan, capital projects, and reaccreditation process.

As we look to the future, Day hopes the community will continue to view VRFA as a trusted, innovative, and responsive organization that delivers exceptional service, invests in its people, and uses public resources responsibly. He also wants VRFA leadership to be recognized as transparent, collaborative, and dedicated to continually improving service to the communities they serve.

Outside of his professional role, Day is a devoted husband and father who values spending quality time with his wife and two adult daughters. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, traveling, and reading.

Congratulations, Chief Day! The VRFA team looks forward to your leadership and the positive direction you will bring to the VRFA.