PULLMAN, WA – The City of Pullman’s new fire chief is resigning after just 5 months on the job.
Chief Brian Nash has submitted his resignation. City spokeswoman Meghan Ferrin confirms to Pullman Radio News that Nash is resigning effective August 1sy. No other details about the resignation are available at this time.
Nash took over the department in February from longtime Chief Mike Heston who retired after 12 years on the job. He came to Pullman from Henderson Nevada where he was a battalion chief.
This isn’t the first time for a short stint for an out of town hire for Pullman Fire Chief. In 2012 Scott Lavielle was hired to take over the department. Lavielle arrived from the North Highline Fire District in Western Washington and only held the Pullman chief’s job for a year before retiring. Heston was then promoted to chief from assistant chief.
This resignation is the latest in a string of administrative turnover for the City of Pullman. Last winter Police Chief Jake Opgenorth resigned over a misconduct scandal. He has since been replaced by police commander Aaron Breshears.
Fallout from the Opgenorth scandal led to the city claiming that City Administrator Mike Urban resigned after an independent investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing. Urban says he did not resign and has threatened to sue the city. Officials are currently searching for a new city administrator while city Finance Director Jeff Elbracht is filling the job on an interim basis.
Ferrin says that Mayor Francis Benjamin will be meeting with city leaders this week to determine how to move forward with filling the Pullman Fire Chief’s post.
