Months after failure to negotiate a contract with Burien/Normandy Park's Fire District 2 left the North Highline Fire District without an administrator, the North Highline District's board of commissioners has voted to appoint Steven Marstrom interim fire chief.

"We had four very strong candidates," commissioner Rob Spreier said, but "we've made a choice, and we feel comfortable with that."

The three commissioners agreed that the decision had been a difficult one, and Ray Austin said that the board selected Marstrom primarily because his solid record in fire district administration made him a good fit for the task.

Marstrom has served with the Lakewood Fire District and as interim chief administrator in Black Diamond. He will hold the same job title in North Highline.

"We really want the chief to hit the ground running," Spreier said. The position's tentative start date is Aug. 9th. While Marstrom will tackle some typical administrative duties, his primary task involves negotiating a contract with a nearby fire district to consolidate administrative functions. The commissioners finalized a job description to this effect early last month.

"His focus is going to be to help the department transition," Austin said, adding that Marstrom will serve as administrator until the district has reached an agreement, when he will no longer be needed.