After an extensive search for a new fire chief, fire district commissioners have made Charlie Krimmert, an architect and longtime volunteer with the department, a conditional offer for the position.

In the coming weeks, Krimmert must complete a physical exam, undergo a psychological test and pass a background check. Once that process is complete and terms of his employment are finalized, the process will be complete.

“I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to finalizing it,” Krimmert said last week.

Fire board chair Candy McCullough announced the decision at the public meeting last week and later spoke to the decision.

“It was a very interesting process, and I am really happy we offered him the job,” she said.

The board hired the executive search firm Prothman to conduct the search and selected five candidates for a lengthy interview process on Nov. 19. All the candidates took a facilities tour and spent four hours interviewing with four panels, one comprised of commissioners and the three others made up of members of the department, volunteers and people from the community.

McCullough noted she expects this interim process to be completed quickly and is looking forward to Krimmert starting “the sooner the better.”

Information Vashon Island Fire &Rescue provided about Krimmert noted that he has been a volunteer with department since 2000, serving as a firefighter/emergency; he is now a volunteer lieutenant.

Currently, he works in Seattle and is the senior associate vice president/senior project manager for CallisonRTKL and has been with the company since 2000. Prior to that, he was a senior vice president at a firm in San Francisco, California.

Krimmert was also a volunteer firefighter for Saddle River Valley Rescue in New Jersey from 1975 to 1978 and 1990 to 1991. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture, both from Montana State University.

— Susan Riemer