Vashon Island Fire & Rescue has made a conditional offer to Matthew Vinci, a longtime fire service professional whose career spans almost 30 years, to become its next assistant chief of operations.

Vinci, pending final contract negotiations and other requirements including passage of psychological and physical examinations, will begin his work on a temporary basis at VIFR on June 1.

The position has been open at VIFR since the retirement of Robert Larsen, who had filled the post since 2016.

The news comes after a search process conducted by Prothman, a firm hired by the district to help in a national search for candidates.

On May 11, Vinci was part of a group of five finalists, identified by Prothman, who were interviewed by a panel of VIFR commissioners, volunteers, and staff, as well as invited members of the public.

In an email to VIFR staff from board chair Candy McCullough, shared with The Beachcomber, McCullough said she looked forward to the process of having Chief Charles Krimmert negotiate the final terms of Vinci’s hire, which would then come up for approval by the board.

“I am excited about our pick and look forward to having Matt on staff and the potential impact his energy and enthusiasm could bring to VIFR,” McCullough said.

Vinci attended the commissioners’ most recent board meeting, on May 25, when he spoke a the end of the meeting, expressing his own excitement to join VIFR, and offering thanks and appreciation to all those he had met thus far in the community and fire district.

“I’ve had really great opportunity in my career, over 28 years, to be in a lot of firehouses and fire stations across the United States and Canada, but when I walked into Vashon, it really felt like home,” he said.

Vinci, when hired, will bring a diverse depth of experience to his work with Vashon Fire & Rescue.

For the past eight years, he has served in leadership roles within the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) headquarters in Washington, D.C., as both the chief of staff and the director of education, training and human relations.

Prior to his time at the IAFF, he served on the executive board of the Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont for 15 years, with seven years as the president. During that time, he also served a 20-year career in operations as a captain/EMT with the City of South Burlington, Vermont, Fire Department.

While in Vermont, Vinci was appointed by two state governors to serve on the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council for eight years, holding the position of vice-chair. He also held the position of chair for Congressman Peter Welch’s Labor Advisory Board. For the past seven years, Vinci has served on the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) under the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He was elected by his peers as the vice-chair of the Commission, a position he has held for the past two years.

More staff positions open at VIFR

Prothman, the fire service headhunter firm, is also assisting VIFR in the search for the replacement for Rebecca Nason, who recently resigned as the district’s secretary and finance manager, and also facilitating advertising for the replacement for the district’s mechanic position, which will become open in August.

At the May 25 commissioners’ meeting, Chief Krimmert also announced two additional departures from the district’s career firefighting force. These include a firefighter who has accepted a position with the Bothell Fire Department and another firefighter who has accepted a position with King County Medic One. Another firefighter who had been on a leave of absence will be returning in July, he said.

The district currently has nine full-time career firefighters on the force, though that number includes the two firefighters who have now announced they will be taking new jobs. Four new full-time firefighters have been conditionally hired or are in training to join the force within the next several months.

At the May 25 board meeting, Krimmert also said the department continued to have difficulties with staffing shortages, exacerbated by COVID-related absences and exposures. (see page 3) He also said he was moving forward, under the board’s directive, to increase the force of career firefighters at VIFR to 16.