Fire Chief Swearingen Retires after a 37-year career
Confident that he is leaving the VRFA in a good place and poised in the right direction, Fire Chief Brent Swearingen has decided to retire. “I believe we have set a clear direction and succession…
VRFA Battalion Chief Mack Accepts Position at East Pierce
After 29 years and a long list of accomplishments, Battalion Chief Bill Mack is resigning from the Valley Regional Fire Authority to accept a position as a Deputy Chief for East Pierce Fire and…
VRFA Firefighter Neil Pedersen Retires
In the 36 years Neil Pedersen has been a firefighter, he has witnessed his fire department grow from one station to five, worked one of the largest fires in Auburn history, and beaten down cancer. He…
VRFA Fire Marshal Karen Stewart Retires
After 30 years on a career path with a constant upward trajectory, Valley Regional Fire Authority Fire Marshal Karen Stewart has decided to retire. Karen's lifelong career goal was to become a…
VRFA Firefighter Swanson Retires
After a 30-year career in the fire service, Firefighter David Swanson looks back on the day that started it all. “I was fifteen years old and headed down the wrong road when a friend invited me to a…
VRFA Firefighter Highley Retires
Thirty-seven years after his first day as a firefighter, Will Highley has decided to retire. Highley began his career in Parkland, Washington, and after six years there, applied with, and was hired…
Firefighter Lars Mickelson retires
After a long career as a Firefighter/EMT and Technical Rescue Specialist, Lars Mickelson is retiring from the Valley Regional Fire Authority. His career in the fire service spans twenty years,…
Fire Captain Norm Golden resigns, takes position with Tukwila Fire Department
After 28 years serving the communities of Algona, Auburn and Pacific, Captain Norm Golden is resigning from the Valley Regional Fire Authority to accept a position as Deputy Chief of Operations for…
Auburn’s First Female Firefighter Retires
In January of 1999, the Auburn Fire Department hired Janeen Ruge as their first female firefighter. Twenty-one years later, after forging a path for others to follow and passing along a wealth of…