Fire Chief Jim Sharp Announces Retirement From WPFR
After 39 years of dedicated service, Fire Chief Jim Sharp is announcing his retirement from West Pierce Fire & Rescue.
Chief Sharp began his fire service career in 1986 as a dispatcher with the Lakewood Fire Department. Six months later, he traded the headset for a helmet and was hired as a firefighter with the University Place Fire Department. Over the next 22 years, he rose through the ranks, serving as Deputy Chief before joining the Lakewood Fire Department in 2008 where he was an Assistant Chief.
The University Place and Lakewood fire departments merged in 2011 to form West Pierce Fire & Rescue. Two years later, in 2013, Sharp was appointed Fire Chief, a role he has held since. He is the only WPFR employee to have served in both departments prior to the merger and is currently the organization’s longest-tenured employee.
Chief Sharp will continue to lead the department until a new Fire Chief is appointed in the first quarter of 2026.
The Board of Fire Commissioners has started the recruitment process, with three internal candidates applying for the position. Candidate interviews are expected to take place in early November, and the Board anticipates announcing its selection at the Nov. 4 meeting.