Chief Terhune has been associated with the North Olympia Fire Department since 1991 through mutual aid responses as a member of the South Bay Fire Department. He was hired as the District’s first full-time career Fire Chief in August of 2008.

His intent is to sustain the culture of the department while growing the ranks and meeting the ever increasing demands of today’s fire service member – paid or volunteer. The demands on Firefighters (FF) and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in our current environment are far beyond the requirements of only a decade ago.

Chief Terhune has been an instructor/evaluator for Thurston County Medic One since 1994 and has participated on the Training Advisory Committee since its inception where decisions are made on how Basic Life Support services will be provided in our county. He is also a member of the Department of Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Team for the local Region 3, and assists in the ongoing readiness of our county and the surrounding area for disaster response.

Bill has resided in Thurston County for over thirty years and has raised four children as part of his family while here. He supports other fire departments throughout the county as one of the Fire Chaplains and is currently first call for the Olympia Fire Department and for the South Bay Fire Department In his spare time, he likes travel, fine dining and outdoors activities. He is also interested in woodworking and camping.

It been a pleasure to work with the fine folks in this department and watch the department get focused on its plan to provide services as a very professional organization serving our citizens today!