Pullman fire chief plans retirement next year

Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston is retiring after 42 years of service.

He announced in a news release Monday that his leave will take effect in February 2025, on the anniversary he became chief.

Heston, 64, began his fire service career at Moses Lake’s Grant County Fire District in 1981. He moved to Pullman in 1983 to study at Washington State University, and joined the WSU Fire Department as a student resident. There, he transitioned to a full-time training captain in 1985, holding the position for 11 years.

He joined the Pullman Fire Department in 1996 as the assistant fire chief of operations, serving in that position until being appointed chief in 2013.

Heston wears many hats in the community. Besides being fire chief, he serves as the Pullman emergency manager, chairperson of the Whitman County Local Emergency Planning Commission and a member of the Northwest Interagency Incident Management Type 2 team.

He said in an interview that family was the main reason why he chose to retire. His folks, kids and grandchildren all live in Pullman, and he wants to spend more time with them.

He also felt like it was time to step away.

“You just see so many people working longer and longer and not able to enjoy retirement as much,” he said. “I don’t want to be one of those people, I would just like to enjoy retirement while I’m young.”

Heston is most proud of establishing the health and wellness program for firefighters. The first responders are provided with medical physicals, cancer screenings and a mandatory physical fitness program.

“Around 50% of firefighter deaths are from cardiac deaths,” he said. “We want our firefighters to be healthy and well so they can live a long life.”

Another accomplishment he mentioned was taking on fire services for WSU in 2005. It was a huge project, he said, and was a commitment to expanding services within the community. The department is still working toward establishing a third fire station on campus, which is anticipated to be constructed in 2028.

Heston said the biggest challenge the department faced was a lack of firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic. He didn’t realize how many he’d lose after Gov. Jay Inslee mandated vaccines for first responders.

He has also seen shortages of paramedic staff, which is a constant.

Heston hopes the department continues to increase its staffing levels and take care of its crews. He said as the city grows, a third fire station is key to being able to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.

The department will carry out a search in the coming months to fill Heston’s position.

Heston still plans to be involved in the community after retirement. He said he intends to continue his work with the All Hazard Incident Management Teams, volunteer as the district chairperson of Scouting America and stay an active member of the Pullman Lions Club.

He looks forward to woodworking with his wife, Debra, who has an interest in wood burning. He is also excited about traveling, fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.