Phalan to leave fire commission

By TED GROSSMAN

Editor

Bob Phalan intends to return to what he enjoys doing most at the Orcas Island Fire Department.

That means retaking his place as an Emergency Medical Technician, where he will once again help those in need of a volunteer responder during an emergency. It's a role at the local fire department in which he served from 1996 to 2001, before he was elected fire commissioner.

Phalan had hoped that he would be allowed to serve in both capacities after he was elected to the commission in 2001. But his colleagues on the commission rejected his request, telling him he could be either an EMT or a commissioner, but not both. Phalan reluctantly gave up his EMT role at the time, but now he wants it back, even though it will require him to resign as fire commissioner after the process of passing the EMT certification test is completed later this year. He will also be required to become a firefighter. Volunteers are now required to fight fires and respond to medical emergencies.

Had Phalan stayed on as a fire commissioner, he would have been up for election in November 2007. Commissioners Harvey Olsan and Clyde Duke will appoint someone to finish out his six-year term at the appropriate time.

Phalan says his reasons for changing course are twofold. First, he gets far more joy working "at the street level." Second, ever since Mike Harris became fire chief in 2003, turmoil at the fire department has subsided considerably, enabling Phalan to feel that this is an appropriate time to walk away from the commission.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.