04/29/2026
Big day at Station 1! Today at the Bellingham Fire Department we celebrated several individuals through two promotions and the pinning ceremony for our five newest paramedics.
The first of the two promotions was Fire Captain Stefen Paige. Since joining BFD in 2018 as a lateral from North Whatcom, Stefen has brought strong operational experience, a passion for developing others, and steady leadership at every level. From teaching ventilation, forced entry, and extrication courses across Washington state to serving in union leadership and as a fire commissioner, his commitment to the fire service runs deep. Most importantly, he builds environments where people feel valued and are pushed to grow, exactly what we look for in a company officer. Congratulations, Captain Paige!
Next is our newly promoted Division Chief of Communications, Tom Kettman. Also joining BFD as a lateral from North Whatcom, Tom has served as a company officer, contributed to our Truck program, and brought years of experience as a HazMat technician. Before the fire service, he ran his own IT company, giving him a systems thinking mindset that translates directly to leading our Communications Division. With union leadership, contract negotiations, and healthcare trust experience, you have someone who understands both the technical and human sides of how an organization works. Tom is a clear communicator and a steady leader, which is a perfect fit for a Division Chief. Congratulations, Chief Kettman!
Finally, our five newest paramedics spent over eighteen months completing coursework, clinical hours, exams, and on-shift evaluations before receiving their paramedic pins as our newest Advanced Life Support providers in Whatcom County. Their dedication to this community and to delivering advanced medical care is a reflection of everything we value at BFD. Please join us in congratulating our newest paramedics:
Emily Thompson
Andrey Baydak
Hunter Stopenhagen
Benson Laurie
Trey Davis
The community is in good hands with these folks!
