Chelan County Fire District 5

10/12/2026

MEET YOUR MANSON FIRE CHIEF:
MIKE WILLIAMS

Mike currently serves as Interim Fire Chief of Chelan County Fire District 5, bringing decades of fire service experience, leadership, and a strong commitment to the communities he serves.

His career began at just 21 years old as a volunteer firefighter. From those early days, Mike worked his way through the ranks, serving as a firefighter, captain, and eventually Division Chief with the Alameda Fire Department in California. He retired in 2024 after a career that included emergency medical services, training, fire operations, and leadership. He also served as a Rescue Specialist with FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4.

But Mike’s connection to Manson goes well beyond the fire station. Mike grew up in a small Northern California town surrounded by redwood forests. His father was a career firefighter for 36 years, and watching his father serve his community helped inspire Mike’s own path in the fire service.

His family connection to Manson runs deep, too. Mike’s wife Gayle Thomas is a fourth-generation Manson resident, whose great-grandfather homesteaded the property now known as the Llama Ranch in 1907.

Since meeting his wife in 2004, Mike has spent summers enjoying Lake Chelan and building a connection to the area. He also operated the Llama boat during local wildfire operations, including the Wolverine, Pioneer, and Pomas fires.

After moving to the Chelan area in 2022, Mike brought his experience and dedication to Chelan County Fire District 5, where he continues to serve the Manson and Lake Chelan community.

We’re fortunate to have experienced leadership working alongside our dedicated firefighters and volunteers to help keep our community safe.

Next time you see Mike around town, be sure to say hello or give him a wave!

10/10/2026

Today, crews from Manson Fire, Chelan, Entiat and Leavenworth responded to a fire that began as a wildland fire before spreading to a structure.

While the garage was destroyed, thanks to the efforts of the responding crews, the home was saved. This is a powerful reminder of the skill and dedication our firefighters bring to every call.

A heartfelt thank you to every fire fighter who showed up and responded to this call. Fortunately no one was injured.

Thank you for having each others backs and for keeping our community safe.

Manson Fire (CCD 5)

10/08/2026

A Little Help, A Lot of Community

A big thank you to Chelan Valley Hope for installing a food pantry outside Manson Fire Station!

This pantry is here for our community. If you need something, please stop by and take what you need. And if you have extra non-perishable food items at home, we invite you to drop them off and help keep the pantry stocked for someone else.

Take what you need. Give what you can. Help your neighbors, sure isn't that what community is all about, helping each other.

Chief Mike, Dash, Reggie and Gillian

10/07/2026

Learning fire safety starts young at Manson

Our Manson Fire Department crew spent two great days at Manson Preschool and Elementary School helping our youngest community members learn some very important lessons about fire and home safety.

Dash and Abbey had a blast teaching the kids about:

Match and fire safety: matches are never toys!

Knowing your two ways out of your home in case of a fire

The importance of working smoke detectors! Do you have one in your house?

Stay Low and Go when there is smoke.

Having a family fire escape plan and practicing it regularly.

We love spending time in our schools and helping kids learn that a little knowledge can make a BIG difference in an emergency.

A huge thank-you to Dash and Abbey for giving up their time and making fire safety fun, memorable, and age-appropriate.

Stay safe Manson!

Dash and Abbey

10/05/2026

10/01/2026

Welcome to October 1st!

The Burn Ban Is Lifted but
Please Don’t Let Your Guard Down!

Starting today the burn ban is officially lifted. We know that means some of you may be ready to enjoy a backyard fire, but please remember that lifting the ban doesn’t mean the risk of wildfire is gone and this is very important.

If you’re having a fire:
• Check conditions before you light it.
• Keep fires small & attended at all times.
• Have water and a shovel nearby.
• Make sure your fire is completely out and
cold to the touch before you walk away.
• Be especially mindful of wind and dry
vegetation.

We’ve seen firsthand how quickly conditions can change. A little extra caution can make a very big difference. Call the fire department if you want to do a burn, and please play safe.

Enjoy the fire. Respect the conditions. Keep Manson safe.

Thanks so much

Chief Mike, Reggie, Dash and the crew at the Manson Fire Department (CCD5).

09/30/2026

Manson community — we want to hear from you.

CCFD 5 is developing a five-year strategic plan to help guide the future of fire and emergency services in our community. Your feedback will help us better understand what matters most to the people we serve, including emergency response, growth, staffing, facilities, equipment, and future priorities.

This is an important opportunity to help shape where Manson Fire goes over the next five years. The more community input we receive, the better we can make informed decisions that reflect local needs and expectations.

Please take a few minutes to complete the CCFD 5 Community Strategic Planning Survey and share your thoughts.

A link to the survey can be found at mansonfire.org

Thank you for helping us plan for the future of Manson Fire.

09/28/2026

Community Spotlight: Kermit Mcclellan, @ Manson Fire Department (CCD5)

Some people serve their community because they’re asked. Others seem to have it in their blood. Kerm Mcclellan has both!

A longtime Manson resident and happily married to Patti for over 10 years, Kerm joined the Manson Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 1984. Over the years, he served as Assistant Chief and became known for his knowledge, dedication, and love of anything with a big engine especially fire trucks, cars, and boats.

Service runs deep in Kerm’s family. His father, Jim Kammenga, was also a volunteer firefighter in Omak and Okanogan, and Kerm has carried that tradition of service forward in his own way.

After more than 30 years with Chelan Public Works, Kerm recently retired. In January 2026, Kerm was elected as a Commissioner for Manson Fire Department (Chelan County Fire District 5) with a vision of making a difference, promoting transparency with public funds, and being a strong voice for the Manson community.

For more than four decades, Kerm has given his time, knowledge, and energy to Manson without hesitation and without expecting anything in return.

Thank you, Kerm, for 40+ years of service and for continuing to show up for the people of Manson. We are beyond grateful to have you on the team.

The Manson Fire Department

09/19/2026

Happy Birthday to our very own Chief Mike Williams!

Today we’re celebrating Chief Mike and thanking him for his service and dedication to the Manson community.

Thank you, Chief, for everything you do for our department, our firefighters, and the people of Manson. We’re grateful to have you leading the way!