Noonchester named Grant County Fire District 8 chief

MATTAWA — Joe Noonchester has been selected as the new chief of Grant County Fire District 8 and will take over the job July 1.

Noonchester will replace David Patterson, who retired April 26, after 12 years with the department, five years as chief.

Barbara Davis, business manager for GCFD8, said Noonchester has about 20 years experience in firefighting.

Noonchester was the training captain for North Whatcom Fire & Rescue, and the district’s interim chief for 10 months in 2019. He also worked for the Lynden Fire Department and the Stanwood Fire Department. Noonchester created and operated the training program for his department, Davis said, has worked on fire department budgets and managed fire department operations.

Noonchester will take over about the time fire district personnel move in mid-June into a new fire station, located at 20643 Road 22.5 SW.

The new station was about $6 million and will house 10 fire trucks and ambulances. Because firefighters will be required to be on site during their shifts, the new station has living quarters, including a kitchen and six bedrooms.

Currently, GCFD8 employs five full-time firefighters, a chief and a business manager, and has about 20 to 30 active volunteers.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.