Earlier this month, after Fire Chief Scott Sorenson retired, Clark County Fire District 3 (CCFD3) upgraded Assistant Chief Chris Drone’s office to the big one.
Drone was officially sworn in as chief of CCFD3 on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Drone, now with CCFD3 since 2017, brings his problem-solving skills, coupled with his drive to help people, to the new chief role, he said. Drone first began his service career in the Marine Corps. After that, Drone graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering but shifted to fire protection engineering, he said. Drone’s fire experience includes fire investigation, having been a fire inspector/investigator for Colorado Springs Fire, then lead deputy fire marshal at Vancouver Fire and he was hired with CCFD3 and the city of Battle Ground in 2017 as a fire marshal/building official.
“I look at them as mentors,” Drone said of the previous chiefs before him. “But with the tools they’ve given me, I’m very optimistic on the future of our district.”
Drone also expressed his gratitude for District 3 and his continuing career in the district.
“I can truly say that, in Fire District 3, no one is just another cog in the machine,” he said. “Everyone has value and they’re recognized, and it’s a refreshing change of culture from some of my previous experiences. That is what’s keeping me here, and I plan to stay here as long as they’ll have me. I’ve found my home.”
Drone inherits a levy lid lift that voters passed last year. With optimism into the future of the district, Drone laid out his top priorities in his new role.
“No. 1 is to deliver on the promises that we kept when we were going out for this levy,” he said. “So that includes upping our staffing to where we can house all stations, five stations, 24/7. No. 2 would be to get a new ambulance that we can put in service when our current ambulance contractor is unavailable. No. 3 would be to advance in our training techniques to make sure that we’re delivering the best possible product to our community.”
In terms of a new ambulance, Drone said the district doesn’t plan to start a new transport service like Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue recently unveiled at the new year but is open to the idea, saying “no model is off the table.” A new ambulance for District 3 would be operated as a when-need-be apparatus in its present proposed model.
As for advancements in training, Drone is hoping the district can be further self-sufficient and not have to rely on outside districts for certain situations. In order for the district to fully operate the tower engine to the best of its ability, Drone said firefighters are being sent to a formal truck academy.
“So we’d have specialized individuals on there whose expertise covers everything from search and rescue to roof operations, things like that that historically we’ve had to rely on other agencies to fulfill,” Drone said. “We don’t want to have to depend on others to fill that gap, especially when it means the delay of service.”
Drone said he loves seeing the cadets and especially the new round of probationary firefighters. CCFD3 stated in a press release that key projects for the district include hiring five firefighter/EMTs to address increasing call volumes.
“I love seeing the excitement on their faces. I truly think they recognize how lucky they are and that their hard work paid off and they’re very excited about their future,” Drone said. “It’s very refreshing to see that.”
The district stated in the release that projects Fire District 3 has planned this year benefit the community beyond improving safety. Fire districts with enhanced capabilities often receive better insurance ratings, which may lower homeowner insurance premiums for residents, the release stated.
The agency is invested in preventing emergencies before they happen through programs in local schools and in the community, including CPR, first aid, station tours, fire risk assessments, youth fire starters prevention and more. For information, visit fire3.org.
