State’s new fire chief had resigned post in Louisiana

OLYMPIA – A former fire chief who resigned his post in Louisiana over politicking accusations has been named Washington state’s new fire marshal.

Samuel P. Pierre, 42, most recently directed the fire prevention bureau of the Lafayette Fire Department. He resigned in 2002 after a firefighter accused him of distributing political propaganda during work, in violation of civil service rules. A department investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

But the Lafayette fire and civil service board launched a separate inquiry, prompting Pierre to resign in protest. He said he’d become the target of some disgruntled firefighters who were unhappy with disciplinary action he’d taken against them.

“It was unfounded stuff. I was in the public eye every day, and to have my family dragged through that episode was unnecessary,” Pierre told the Olympian newspaper. “So I decided I didn’t need that.”

Pierre brings 22 years of fire service experience to the fire marshal’s office, which supports local fire districts, collects statistics, runs the Fire Training Academy and coordinates statewide fire mobilizations. The office also supervises annual fire inspections at nursing homes and licenses fireworks distributors.

Pierre holds a master’s degree in public administration and has worked as a fire inspector and fire engineer.

As head of Lafayette’s fire prevention bureau, he oversaw arson investigations, code enforcement and fire protection services and managed a budget of about $500,000.