Jim Shields

After nearly 40 years with the Poulsbo Fire Department, Fire Chief Jim Shields retired on June 5th.  Chief Shields began his involvement in 1969 when he accompanied a volunteer fire fighter buddy (now fire commissioner Darryl Milton) to the scene of a fire.  “I offered to lend a hand, and from then on, I was hooked.  Back then, Poulsbo Fire was still an all volunteer department with the City of Poulsbo, having agreements for fire protection to out-lying areas,” said Shields.  “In those days, we responded to a fire by the address, or the location of the ‘old Johnson farm’ or ‘two driveways past the big rock on the left.’”  Shields worked his way through the ranks, from lieutenant, to captain, then battalion chief and on to assistant chief.  He became Poulsbo Fire Chief after 23 years, and says he’s seen tremendous changes in the fire service.

 From merging with Keyport and consolidating into one fire district, separate from the city, Poulsbo Fire adapted to the needs of the community.  “We experienced a tremendous amount of pride in watching our department evolve from a small  all-volunteer department responding only to fire calls,  to a modern well-staffed service provider with forty-nine full time, highly trained employees and 25 motivated volunteers responding to mostly medical emergencies mixed with rescue, fire and miscellaneous other events,” Shields recalls.