Brian Brett has dedicated 34 years to the fire service, serving as Fire Chief of Wenatchee Valley Fire Department (WVFD) for the past eight years. His leadership reflects extensive experience addressing Central Washington’s recurring wildfire challenges.
WVFD benefits from close working relationships with nearby wildfire specialists from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These partnerships support the rapid establishment of Unified Command and a coordinated response.
During his tenure as Chief, WVFD has requested State Mobilization for wildfires 21 times. The department responds to more than 100 brush fires annually within its jurisdiction and through mutual aid to neighboring departments.
To address this ongoing threat, WVFD owns two UH-1H Type II Huey helicopters equipped with water buckets and upgraded to meet DNR aviation specifications. The department also leases a dozer package during the summer wildfire season and subscribes to Pano AI, incorporating early detection cameras into its wildfire response strategy.
The Wenatchee area’s shrub-steppe vegetation and steep terrain allow ignitions to develop quickly into fast-moving wildfires. Under Brett’s leadership, WVFD deploys aviation resources, dozer equipment, and brush trucks immediately upon dispatch, with the goal of containing wildfires within a single operational period and minimizing the need for State Mobilization. This coordinated, aggressive initial attack strategy has helped contain most wildfires, protect communities, and limit fire spread.