Fire Captain Retiring After 32 Years

Long serving fire fighter Andy Speier is hanging up his hat.

Speier, a Captain with Snohomish County Fire District One, is retiring after 32 years in the fire service. He will be honored in a ceremony at Brier Fire Station 18 at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

Speier began his career as a student fire fighter in Connecticut. He then moved to Washington to attend Evergreen College.

After college, he volunteered with Thurston County Fire District 9, and then worked at stations in the Grand Canyon, Kent, New York City, and Bainbridge Island.

Speier joined Fire District One in 1991 and became a member of their Rescue Team. After the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, Speier traveled to New York to pitch in with the rescue efforts. The experience was particularly meaningful to Speier because former coworkers from the station he used to work at died in the attacks. 

In retirement, Speier plans to continue to teach rescue classes and get out on his bike. He's cycled across the U.S. and wants to complete other long distance rides.

For those wishing to attend the retirement ceremony, Brier Fire Station is located at 21206 Poplar Way. Parking at the station will be reserved for fire department vehicles. Guest parking will be in the south end of the parking lot at Albertsons, 4301 212th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace. Shuttle service to the fire station begins at 8 a.m. Carpools are encouraged.