POULSBO — Former Eastside Fire and Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Griffin accepted the position of interim fire chief of the Poulsbo Fire Department on May 16.

Fire Commission Chairman Darryl Milton said, “All four candidates had excellent resumes and had good interviews, but after looking at all the evaluations, he came out on top.”

“I am humbled and very pleased to become part of such a high quality fire department,” Griffin said. “I am excited to serve the beautiful communities of Poulsbo and Fire District 18, and to be joining such an exceptional team of professionals and volunteers that are so dedicated to the citizens.”

Poulsbo’s current fire chief, Daniel Olson, has accepted a position as deputy chief of the Vancouver Fire Department. Olson served as fire chief since 2008 and his last day with the Poulsbo Fire Department is June 1.

Griffin has served more than 31 years in the fire service and comes to Poulsbo’s fire department with extensive management experience, including administering large, complex budgets and programs, and leading high-performance teams. Griffin served as deputy chief of Eastside Fire & Rescue in King County, a fire department covering approximately 200 square miles of East King County utilizing 15 stations.

Griffin, a 2010 graduate of the National Fire Academy’s prestigious Executive Fire Office Program, has extensive experience in the consolidation of several fire departments, and has an associate’s degree in fire command and administration.

Prior to working with Eastside Fire & Rescue, Griffin spent 21 years with the Port of Seattle Fire Department, making his way through the ranks from firefighter to serving as the highest ranking 24-hour command position. Griffin began his career in the fire service with King County Fire Protection District 10 in 1980, where he was a volunteer and resident before being hired as a full-time firefighter. He has served in every rank, and was also elected and served as a fire commissioner and later as board chairman.

Griffin and his wife, Lorna, have been married 21 years. They have a daughter, Paige, attending Central Washington University; and a son, Tyler, who will be graduating high school in June. Griffin is passionate about community service and has served on the board of two nonprofit organizations that provide essential social services.