Rick Paris retires as fire chief for Grand Coulee

Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rick Paris will be retiring as chief at the end of the month, but will still be on the department as a fireman and emergency medical technician.

Paris announced his retirement at the Dec. 17 Grand Coulee Council Meeting.

Having retired from his job after 35 years as an electrical planner at Grand Coulee Dam in 2018, Paris said he will be out of town often during the year, so he felt it was best to retire as chief.

Following his father's example, Paris started early in firefighting nearly 50 years ago.

"My father was volunteer fire chief in (the) Coopers Plains Long Acres Volunteer Fire Department for about 15 years," Paris said about growing up in New York state. "I started there as a junior fire fighter in 1970 when I was in high school."

Paris joined the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department in 1980, becoming chief in Sept. of 1996, and has been chief for 23 years and three months.

Paris said he still plans to be a firefighter and EMT for years to come.

Paris told The Star that there were "lots of interesting times," and said that a lot of the memories that stand out from his time as chief involved working with a variety of people he describes as "just like a family," and "watching people come and go and develop."

"The best of being a volunteer firefighter is all the great friends I have made and had the pleasure to work with," Paris said. "Some have become chosen family for my wife and I."

Paris said that Ryan Fish will be the interim chief.

"He is the next in line as assistant fire chief," Paris said about Fish. "He has been learning the job and improving his skills and leadership qualifications."

The mayor will nominate a new chief to be approved by the city council, Paris said.