Interim Mattawa fire chief has firefighting in his blood

MATTAWA - Dave Patterson is new to the position of (interim) fire chief in Mattawa, but he's not new to firefighting. He was a volunteer in Gig Harbor for 16 years and Puyallup for four years.

That was back in the day when Patterson was an electrician for Meridian Center Electric. He put in a lot of night hours fighting fires.

"No sleep sometimes," he said. "You got back just in time to go to your job."

Patterson moved to this area eight years ago, taking up residence in Desert Aire with his wife Page. He was retiring after 25 years with Meridian, the last few as manager of a 235-person work force.

Patterson had learned of this area long before. A brother who worked on nuclear power plant construction at Hanford, lived in Desert Aire in the 1970s.

"My wife and I liked it over here," he said. "We had a place at Sunland Estates. "We sold there to move here."

The reason Patterson volunteered here was that he had done it before. Fire fighting was in his blood.

After six years with Grant County Fire District No. 8, Patterson was handed the deputy fire chief post, one of three paid positions in the department.

Then last year, after former Chief Dave Hargroves and the District 8 Commissioners had a parting of the ways, Patterson was elevated to the position of interim chief.

Patterson said he has no idea what the commissioners will do about a permanent chief. He would like the job but, for now, will carry out the duties in a temporary capacity.

"We have a strategic plan workshop planned for late February," he said. "We've never had a strategic five-year plan before."

The workshop will involve Patterson, business manager Barbara Davis Wilson, the commissioners and possibly some volunteers.

According to Patterson, District No. 5, with stations at Desert Aire and Road 24 at Road G has adequate equipment and funding to carry out its mission.

Patterson has 32 volunteer fire fighters at his disposal. He said there is more than adequate response for every call.

"We have a great group of volunteers," he said.

Of the 32 volunteers, 15 are Emergency Medical Technician Basic. Three are Emergency Medical Technician Advanced.

In addition to interim chief, Patterson is the training officer and the safety officer.

Patterson said the department responded to 10 house fires last year and fewer than 10 wild land fires. He said there were more than 300 medical emergency calls.