Wenatchee Valley Fire Department Selects Retired Idaho Falls Firefighter as New Chief
Idaho Falls, Idaho — Fire commissioners in Washington state have selected a retired Idaho Falls firefighter to lead the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department, tapping Jon Perry from a pool of three finalists to replace the department’s retiring chief.
The Wenatchee Valley Fire Department Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to offer the chief position to Perry, who retired from the Idaho Falls Fire Department in the fall. The selection fills the vacancy left by outgoing Chief Brian Brett, who is retiring from the position.
Idaho Falls Firefighter Chosen for Washington Leadership Role
Board Chairman Dave Fennell confirmed the selection and pointed to Perry’s depth of experience and educational background as the deciding factors in the process. The other two finalists were WVFD Deputy Chief Andy Davidson and Kristan Maurer from Clark County Fire District 6.
“The candidate has a lot of experience, has never been a fire chief … a great deal of education, fire service and administrative management,” Fennell said, according to The Wenatchee World. “All three of the candidates had a great deal of experience, but we just felt that our candidate prevailed with the most experience and the most education.”
Despite Perry’s tenure with the Idaho Falls Fire Department, the selection carries a personal connection to the Wenatchee area. Fennell noted that Perry is an East Wenatchee native — born and raised in the region — making the hire something of a homecoming for the incoming chief.
Perry’s background includes fire service experience and administrative management training, though he has not previously held the rank of fire chief. Commissioners indicated that combination of qualifications, paired with what they described as an outside perspective, made him the strongest candidate for the role.
Selection Process Involved Community and Labor Input
The decision came after a full day of interviews conducted Monday by a range of citizen groups. Fennell said those groups included a labor panel, union personnel, administrative staff, and the board of commissioners itself — a broad evaluation process designed to assess how candidates would work with both frontline firefighters and department leadership.
Fennell said the board was specifically looking for a candidate with an “outside perspective” to guide the department going forward. That stated preference played a role in passing over internal candidate Deputy Chief Andy Davidson in favor of Perry’s external experience.
“All three of the candidates had a great deal of experience,” Fennell reiterated, “but we just felt that our candidate prevailed with the most experience and the most education.”
The selection of a retired public safety professional with strong administrative credentials reflects a common priority among fire and emergency services agencies seeking leadership capable of managing both operational demands and the increasingly complex administrative requirements of modern fire departments.
Perry’s tenure with the Idaho Falls Fire Department represents a significant stretch of public service in Bonneville County and the broader East Idaho region. His retirement from the department and subsequent pursuit of a chief-level position elsewhere reflects a career arc seen frequently among experienced fire service professionals who continue contributing to public safety leadership beyond formal retirement.
For readers interested in other community profiles across Idaho, the Idaho Falls Symphony is also marking a leadership transition of its own — music director Eckart Preu prepares to conduct his final concert after years of service to the local arts community. Separately, volunteers looking to give back this season can find opportunities to support public sites, including preparation efforts at Minidoka National Historic Site ahead of its seasonal opening.
What Comes Next
With the offer extended, the next step is Perry’s formal acceptance of the position and the finalization of employment terms with the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department Board of Commissioners. Once those details are confirmed, the department will announce a transition timeline for Perry to assume command from outgoing Chief Brian Brett. No formal start date had been announced as of the board’s Tuesday vote.