Seaside Fire Div. Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Dugan is starting a new chapter in his firefighting career.

“It gives me great excitement to announce that I have been offered the position of Office of State Fire Marshal, Deputy State Fire Marshal District No. 1,” Dugan said last week.

That district covers Clatsop, Tillamook, and Columbia counties.

There are 15 deputy state fire marshals and two supervisors located throughout the state.

A volunteer with Seaside since 1989 and a professional firefighter since 2000, Dugan’s last day was last Friday. He started his new job on Monday, based out of the state police office in Warrenton.

“I’m not moving, in fact I’m still going to be part of the Seaside Fire Department as a volunteer,” Dugan said. “I’m still going to be part of the community, still a part of the department as long as they can use me.”

The deputy state fire marshal investigates fires, especially in fire districts without trained investigators.

“I could be going anywhere from Netarts in Tillamook County to over in Columbia County, and investigate fires as needed.”

The deputy state fire marshal inspects businesses normally not inspected by the local fire marshal, including anything that would be licensed by the state. “A little more technical, not your everyday gasoline stations, to restaurants to motels,” Dugan said.