Meet our Chief

Meet Our Fire Chief - Dave LaFave

Chief Dave LaFave began his fire service career with Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue as a volunteer in March 1983. He was hired full time as a firefighter and EMT in March 1986 and served in operations for most of his career. In November 2000, Dave LaFave was promoted from Deputy Chief of Operations to Fire Chief.

In addition to his structural firefighting and EMS responsibilities, he has been involved in wildland firefighting and disaster response his entire career. He has qualified and performed on numerous conflagration fires at all NWCG operational line levels up to and including Incident Commander Type 1. He is assigned to the Washington State Incident Management Team #3.

Chief LaFave has been involved in the management of various types’ of emergencies including floods, landslides, natural gas pipeline explosions, major haz-mat events and wildfires as far away as California and Virginia. He also responded for relief missions to Hurricane Katrina as the IC for WA-IMT #3. He served as a reserve police officer and participated with the local drug task force and performed arson investigation including arrest and prosecution within Cowlitz County.

He is involved on many boards and committees including the Board for the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs, PNWCG Steering Committee, Cowlitz County Guidance Association Board of Directors and Washington State Fire Defense Committee. He is also an active local volunteer in civic organizations including Kelso Rotary.

His educational background includes an Associates Degree of Applied Science in Fire Protection from Portland Community College and, a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program. Currently, he is working towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration. Dave is also an approved instructor through the US Fire Administration for All Hazard Incident Management Team training and numerous ICS functional positions. He has a strong background in Leadership and Organizational Development and provides presentations and consulting nationwide.

Chief LaFave is married to Amy and has three children, Lacey, Jake and Ryan. He enjoys hunting, military history and farming as well as working with heavy equipment and logging.

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Meet Our Fire Chief - Dave LaFave

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