Rogers seek CKFR commish spot

Ralph Rogers, 51

Address: 71 N.E. Hazelwood Place, Bremerton

Occupation: Owner of Pacific Northwest Team Sports.

Experience: fire commissioner since 1995. Twenty years of naval experience. CKFR firefighter for 14 years, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

l What is more important? Personnel, apparatus or facilities?

“All three go hand-in-hand. You can have the right number of highly trained and motivated firefighters, and if they don’t have a well-maintained up-to-date piece of apparatus to get them to the scene on time and in working order, you might lose your home or your life.

“It works the other way (too). You can have the latest and greatest piece of apparatus, and if you don’t have enough trained and motivated firefighters, that piece of apparatus is less effective (or) useless.

“Facilities are also very important. We ask firefighters to spend 30 percent of their life in our fire station. 24 hours, 48 hours, and sometimes 72 hours straight. They need a clean comfortable place to live, eat and sleep.”

l What makes a good commissioner?

“I think a person who has some leadership experience or training. Someone who has the desire to serve his or her community. Someone who understands budgets, (has) some experience in firefighting, (and) someone who has a knowledge of how unions work. I believe anyone can be a good commissioner if you put your heart into it.”

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