Spring combines firefighting and community as Waitsburg's chief

WAITSBURG — Since 2021, Columbia Walla Walla Fire District #2 has been looking for a full-time fire chief. The commissioners, volunteers, and community members have worked on a job description that would best serve the community. In February, the board hired Assistant Fire Chief Matt Spring to take over as chief. Spring is a Waitsburg resident with deep roots in the community and firefighting.

“I grew up in a household watching my father work as a firefighter, then a fire chief, my entire childhood,” said Spring.

Spring began volunteering in Waitsburg in 2015, went through EMT training in 2016 before being hired by the Columbia County Fire District #3 in 2018. While in Dayton, Spring went through an academy and continued his training earning certifications for the job.

To build leadership and management skills, Spring returned to college studying fire service administration and will earn his degree in 2026.

In early 2024, Spring was hired by the City of Pasco Fire Department and stayed for a year before coming back to Waitsburg and taking a job at the Waitsburg station.

Back in Waitsburg, he worked most of the positions at CWWFD2, including lieutenant, captain, training officer, assistant chief, and fire commissioner before becoming fire chief.

Spring has certifications in Wildland Firefighting, Structural Firefighting, and EMS. He has the experience and certifications to teach almost all the topics necessary for the department and continues to grow his portfolio.

“I enjoy serving our community and working with the people who surround me in my life and being close to my daughter,” said Spring.

It is clear that his father, Mike Spring, has been a big influence in his career and his dedication to public service.