PORT LUDLOW — Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue Chief Ed Wilkerson will leave for an executive position in an Arizona fire district.

Wilkerson’s last official day as chief will be Dec. 31, though he will take a month’s accrued vacation prior to that time, he said Thursday.

“My wife and I have talked about retiring to a warmer climate, but we had planned to retire and then move,” he said.

“I wasn’t actively looking, but this new position is a great opportunity for me.”

Wilkerson will become chief executive officer of Mountain Vista Fire District in Tucson, Ariz.

Wilkerson, 54, said he would probably work for another seven to 10 years before retiring.

The fire district commissioners have not scheduled the process of replacing the chief permanently.

Wilkerson said finding a new chief can take four to six months.

During that time, the department will be run by Assistant Chief Brad Martin, whom Wilkerson called “very qualified.”

Wilkerson submitted a letter of resignation to the fire district commissioners Tuesday.

Gene Carmody, chairman of the fire district board, lauded Wilkerson for his service to the department.

“We regret losing Chief Wilkerson, who has given us six years of outstanding leadership,” Carmody said in a statement.

“He has taken the department to a higher level in the delivery of emergency services to the Port Ludlow citizens.”

Wilkerson, who has been a firefighter for more than 30 years, said both the image of firefighters and their duties have changed during his career.

“There used to be this image that firefighters did nothing but sit around drinking coffee, but that has changed,” he said.

“We spend time taking care of sick people and dealing with all kinds of miscell­aneous issues.”

While firefighter safety has always been a priority, it has gained importance in the past 15 or 20 years, he said.

“Safety has always been important, but lately, we have made great strides in safety, and it has become essential that firefighters have the adequate resources to perform their jobs,” Wilkerson said.

Specific to Port Ludlow, Wilkerson said the department has become more professional and has incorporated a planning strategy during his tenure.

During his six years in Port Ludlow, Wilkerson has been an active member of a number of fire service and community organizations, including president of the East Jefferson Fire Chiefs Association and serving on the board of JeffCom 9-1-1.

Outside of emergency management, he has been an East Jefferson Rotary Club member and board member and is the current president of United Good Neighbors of Jefferson County.

________

Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.