Amid other leadership changes, the South King Fire is still searching for a new chief, about 10 months after the former chief was placed on leave and subsequently retired.

According to South King Fire (SKF) Executive Director Joe Ganem, the fire district is still searching for a replacement for former Chief Dave Van Valkenburg and has hired a consulting firm to assist in the process. Ganem said the newest update is that the consulting firm advertised the opening/application process for the fire chief position.

Van Valkenburg was placed on paid administrative leave pending an independent investigation during a Dec. 4, 2024, SKF Board of Commissioners meeting. Van Valkenburg subsequently retired after a Jan. 8, 2025, meeting — a day before his administrative leave was set to end — when t

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