The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – Rick Turner has been the face of Columbia County Fire District 3 for nearly 20 years, but as of January 1, 2017, the chief will return to full-time farming and leave firefighting to the next generation of heroes.

Taking his place as chief will be lifelong Dayton resident Jeromy Phinney. Monday was Phinney's first official day as assistant fire chief. He will shadow Chief Turner for the next 22 months, learning the full-time job of running this 45-person department with its four paid staff, 41 volunteers, and dual operations of firefighting and emergency medical response.

"Jeromy has b...