Current Orcas Fire Chief Mike Harris passed his title on to Kevin O’Brien during a Change of Command on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station.

Harris has been the chief since 2008. The Orcas Fire Board of Commissioners announced their appointment of O’Brien on Feb. 9.

O’Brien has more than 20 years of emergency medical and fire/rescue experience with the Valley Regional Fire Authority in Auburn, Wash., where he rose to the rank of Battalion Chief. He graduated from Orcas Island High School in 1984 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Washington.

In 2006, O’Brien returned to Orcas with wife Nancy and three sons.