East Jefferson Fire-Rescue commissioners presented Port of Port Townsend employee Pete Parrish with a certificate of appreciation for putting out a fire during this year’s Wooden Boat Festival.
Parrish was recognized at the commissioners’ Wednesday meeting for putting out a fire he discovered in the early morning hours of Sept. 7, the last day of the three-day festival, said Bill Beezley, department spokesman.
At about 2:30 a.m., while Parrish was on patrol at Point Hudson Marina and RV Park, he saw smoke and 4-foot flames coming from a bucket below a fryer in the Kokopelli Grill vendor tent, Beezley said.
He rushed back to his patrol vehicle, grabbed a dry chemical fire extinguisher and put out the blaze before calling 9-1-1.
He suffered smoke inhalation, for which he was later treated.
Fire officials determined that Parrish’s quick actions prevented significant property losses among Wooden Boat Festival vendors and potentially Port of Port Townsend facilities.
–
Image: East Jefferson Fire-Rescue officers present Port of Port Townsend employee Pete Parish with a certificate of appreciation during a recent meeting. From left are Port Townsend Police Officer Patrick Fudally, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski, Port Townsend Mayor David King, Pete Parrish, Leslie Parrish and Fire Commissioner Dave Johnson.