Northshore Fire Department Chief Tom Weathers will be retiring at the end of this month and Deputy Fire Chief Jim Torpin has been appointed acting fire chief effective Jan. 1.

Chief Weathers has been with the department since June 2000: he was deputy chief for five years and has been chief for six; prior to that, he worked in the fire industry for 22 years in Arizona.

“I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve our community as their fire chief.  I believe we have implemented an excellent emergency mitigation system that has demonstrated quality outcomes again and again while controlling costs and increasing financial transparency,” Weathers said.  “We now have in place a superior training program, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, talented employees and a mindset of identifying and implementing the best practices.”

Chief Torpin has been a fire-district employee since 1993 and has risen through the ranks to his current position. He possesses a strong background in fire ground operations, as well as fiscal responsibility, according to a Northshore Fire Department press release. His goal is to maintain the high level of service provided by the district while negotiating the current and forecasted financial challenges.

“I have no doubt that Chief Torpin will continue on this path while bringing his own skills and abilities to lead the organization to even greater heights,” Weathers said.  “He understands the sole reason for our existence is to assist our citizens in achieving the safest living environment possible.”