Submitted by Lopez Island Fire and EMS Department
It is with great pleasure that the Commissioners of Lopez Island Fire and Emergency Medical Services has selected Adam Bigby to be its next fire chief. Bigby’s first day working for the district was on Dec. 15.
Bigby comes to Lopez with 29 years of fire department experience. He started as a volunteer with Snohomish County Fire District 7 in 1991, while he was a senior in high school. He worked for a private ambulance company in Tacoma as an emergency medical technician in 1996. In 1998 he moved to Pierce County and joined the Browns Point-Dash Point Fire Department and was promoted to assistant fire chief in 2001. He earned his Paramedic certification in 2001 and in 2003 joined the Montesano Fire Department in Grays Harbor County as the medical services officer and paramedic-firefighter. Bigby successfully promoted through the ranks of the Montesano department and as of 2010 serves as a Captain.
Additionally, Bigby serves neighboring Grays Harbor Fire District No.2 as an elected Fire District Commissioner.
Bigby is a western Washington native who was born in Bellevue, Washington, and his family moved to the Monroe area in 1986. He graduated Monroe High school 1991. He continued to pursue additional post secondary education. Paramedic school Tacoma Community College 2000-2001; associates degree from Tacoma Community College 2010; associates degree from Grays Harbor Community College 2016; bachelors degree from Central Washington University 2017.
Bigby married his wife Rachel in 1994 and they have two children. Their first son Mackenzie (Mack) was born in 1995. Their second son Riley was born in 1997. Both of their sons have graduated high school and college and from time to time will be visiting mom and dad.
In addition to their two sons they also have a family of five pets, four dogs: Chewbacca, Lando, Leia and Luke; and a cat Boba.
Rachel previously was the director of the after school program at Beacon elementary (Montesano School district). Rachel currently provides dog care and training through her own company.
Bixby and his wife want you all to know: “We are thrilled to be moving to Lopez Island to begin the next chapter in our life”.
You’ll likely see them around the island walking their dogs Luke and Leia.
The staff, volunteers and commissioners are excited to welcome Bigby and his wife Rachel to the Lopez Island Community. They plan be moving to the island sometime in mid December.
The Board of Commissioners is pleased with the experience and qualifications that Bigby brings to Lopez Island. His experience and knowledge will enable him to “hit the ground running,” and begin to address some immediate needs and goals that have been delayed by the demands of the COVID pandemic.
In the chief’s first year, the district’s strategic plan will need to be updated, and a stable funding plan will have to be developed. The funding plan may include an EMS levy, increasing the fire levy in 2021 and/or a capital improvement bond issue in the future. Any of these funding options would require voter approval.
