A new fire marshal has started work at Snohomish County Fire District 8 in Lake Stevens.
Mike Messer, 33, hails from North Carolina. He also will serve as a deputy fire chief.
Messer is looking forward to helping the fire district serve a rapidly growing population, he said. He and his wife, Gloria, have three children, ages 4 to 19. They are looking for a house and schools in Lake Stevens.
“That's what we want to do, to be a part of the community,” he said.
The job pays $117,000 a year. Messer will oversee fire investigations and the district's fire prevention and education efforts, which include safety campaigns in local schools.
Those programs are key to the success of the district, Fire Chief Kevin O'Brien said in a news release.