Lewis County Fire District 5 terminates contract with chief hired in January

May 10—Lewis County Fire District 5 (LCFD 5) in Napavine is again looking for a new chief after the district's board of commissioners voted April 25 to terminate a contract with Brent Adams, who was hired in January of this year.

"We are thankful for Chief Adams' service to the district and wish him the best in his future endeavors," LCFD 5 said in a May 3 news release.

The district did not provide a reason for terminating Adams' contract.

Gregg Peterson, who retired as chief of LCFD 5 in 2016, is currently serving as interim chief.

"Mr. Peterson has many years of service to the citizens of LCFD 5 and recently served as our interim chief until January of this year. He is well respected by our board, our employees, and the citizens of LCFD 5 and we look forward to working with him," LCDF 5 said in a news release.

A lifelong Washington state resident who has had careers in construction, fire and law enforcement, Adams left a lieutenant position at the Key Peninsula Fire Department in Pierce County in January 2024 to take on the role of fire chief in Napavine, according to previous Chronicle reporting.

Adams was hired to replace former LCFD 5 Chief Dan Mahoney after the district's board of commissioners voted to terminate Mahoney's contract "without cause" in June 2023, according to previous Chronicle reporting.

Peterson served as interim chief from the end of Mahoney's contract in June 2023 to Adams' hiring in January of 2024.

Mahoney was hired as chief in 2019 and served in the position for nearly four years.