King County Fire District 20 Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Joseph Clow as the district’s next fire chief during a special meeting Aug. 27, 2015.

Clow is the former Fire Chief of King County Fire District 28 (Enumclaw), a district similar to District 20 with a combination of career and volunteer firefighters. The Enumclaw district responds to about 2,000 plus calls a year, serving a population of 18,000 and an annual budget of $2.8 million dollars.

He also has experience as the fire chief of the City of Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and Town of Bedford Fire Department in New Hampshire.

Clow began his fire service career in Bettendorf, Iowa in 1980. He is married to his wife, Sue, and the couple have two grown children, Anna and Paul.

“I liked the aspect that the fire chief would be involved in the community. Don’t be surprised if I show up on the engine to a call,” Clow said in a press release about taking the position. “I had an opportunity to assist in the hiring of Chief Chubb and liked the similarities it had with other fire departments I have been involved with.”

Clow replaces former Fire Chief Mark Chubb who took a position as chief safety officer of Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Interim Fire Chief Jon Parkinson returned to Eastside Fire and Rescue on Sept. 4.

“We wish Chief Parkinson the best as he returns to duty at Eastside Fire. He has been instrumental during the search for a new chief and the transition to Chief Clow,” said Board Chairman Jeff Doppmann.