Our Team

South Bay Fire District 8

Chief Brian VanCamp

Chief VanCamp has been a member of the South Bay Fire Department since 1973. He promoted through the ranks of the District from volunteer Firefighter to Deputy Chief, then being appointed as volunteer Fire Chief in 1996. He was hired in 1999 as the District’s first full-time career Fire Chief.

Chief VanCamp was instrumental in the development of the Thurston Fire & Rescue Training Consortium (and is its present Chair) and currently serves as the Past-President of the Thurston County Association of Fire Chiefs. He is also a member of the South Puget Sound Community College Fire & Emergency Services Technology Advisory Board and the Thurston County Medic One Operations Committee.

Brian is a graduate of Washington State University, the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program and has received the Chief Fire Officer Designation.

Chief VanCamp is a Thurston County “Thurstoneer” as his ancestor Franz family were pioneers in the Lacey area. He is married and has a daughter attending college. In his spare time, he likes travel, fine dining and outdoors activities. He is also interested in railroading hobbies including modeling, history and photography. Email Chief VanCamp at vancamp@southbayfire.com.

“It been a pleasure to work with the fine folks in the department over the years and watch it grow into a very professional organization serving our citizens today!”

Read the Chief’s Monthly Report

Assistant Chief Brandon LeMay

Chief LeMay joined the South Bay Fire Department in October of 2010, as the Training and Safety Officer. He is currently the Department’s Chief of Operations.

Chief LeMay has been in the fire service since 1996 when he graduated from the Louis F. Garland Fire Training Academy in San Angelo, TX. Brandon was a U.S. Air force firefighter stationed in Texas, Kansas, Korea, Missouri, Massachusetts, and Kuwait. He also worked as a fire protection service contractor for the Department of Defense in Afghanistan.

Prior to his employment with SBFD, he was a Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal with the Washington State Patrol, State Fire Marshal’s Office. Brandon has received the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Designation, the National Fire Academy’s, Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) certification and is a graduate of the University of New Haven, CT, where he received two Bachelor Degrees; to include a B.S. in Fire Administration and a B.S. in Fire/Arson Investigation with a minor in Criminal Justice.

Brandon, his wife Belle and their son’s Dylan and Ayden live in District, here in Olympia. Brandon and his family enjoy traveling, sports, meeting new people, camping, and most other outdoor activities.

Email Chief LeMay at lemay@southbayfire.com

“The South Bay Fire Department is a group of exceptionally talented and dedicated members that I am very proud to be a part of! If anyone else thinks they have what it takes to be an emergency responder – I recommend applying to join our team!”

District Secretary Heidi Stumpf

Heidi joined the Department in 2006. Ms. Stumpf plays a dual role in the Department as the District Secretary, managing administrative functions in the office, and serves as confidential Secretary to the Board (as defined by RCW 52.14.080), providing clerical, administrative and financial support to the Board of Fire Commissioners.

Heidi lives in Pierce County with her husband. She has grown children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and camping with her husband. Email Secretary Stumpf at heidis@southbayfire.com.

Battalion Chief Brent McBride

Battalion Chief McBride grew up on Johnson Point and began his fire service career as a volunteer in 2000. He was hired in 2008 as the Assistant Chief of Training & Safety, where he was responsible for developing and implementing training programs and promoting a culture of safety throughout the organization. In 2010, he transitioned to the role of Assistant Chief of Operations, overseeing emergency response for District 8.

Following a district-wide reorganization in 2018, Chief McBride assumed his current role as Battalion Chief, serving on A-Platoon. In addition to his operational responsibilities, he manages the District’s Facilities & Equipment program, ensuring that all stations and apparatus are maintained to the highest standards.

Outside of work, Chief McBride enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, snow skiing, and boating.

Battalion Chief Darrel Clowes

Battalion Chief Darrel Clowes joined South Bay Fire in January, 2020. He has been in the fire service 2 years as a volunteer in LA County California, and spent the past 15 years as a Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, and Acting Battalion Chief for a 155 member career department near Kansas City.
As well as being a credentialed Fire Officer with the Center for Public Safety Excellence, he has obtained an Associate's degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor's degree in Fire and Emergency Management.
Prior to joining the department he worked for 15 years as both a shipbuilder in Virginia and a structural steel Ironworker in California. When time allows, he enjoys anything outdoors and spending time with his fiancé and their 5 dogs.

Lieutenant Allie Choate

Allie Choate joined the SBFD in 2019. She lives here in Olympia with her partner Dylan, their son Maxwell and dog Louie. She is originally from Reno, Nevada and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2011.

Allie joined the fire service in 2013 at McLane Black Lake Fire Department where she earned a degree in Fire and Emergency services. She feels fortunate to be hired at South Bay this year. “I love the beautiful community I serve and my Fire Department family. In my spare time, I enjoy my family time, outdoor activities, road trips and game nights. My favorite place to be is at the ocean.”

Lieutenant Travis Osborne

I am a Native Washingtonian, born and raised in Tacoma. I graduated from Henry Foss High School and attended the University of Puget Sound, where I received a
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Mathematics.

I married my wife, Catherine, (yes I perpetuated the stereotype and married a nurse) in 2014. We have one 5 year old daughter, Brianne, and are anxiously awaiting a second daughter due in 2020. As a family, we love the outdoors, travel, movies, and food.

My career in the fire service began as a legacy in 2003, working with my dad as volunteers for Riverside Fire and Rescue just outside of
Puyallup. Over the course of 9 years, I worked my way through the ranks, ending as a Captain and Training Officer. In 2012, I was hired
full time with North Olympia Fire and Rescue as the Training Lieutenant and Safety Officer. When North Olympia and South Bay merged
in 2015, I followed as a day shift Training Lieutenant. Currently, I work as a day shift Lieutenant managing Apparatus and Equipment.

I am grateful for the opportunities and challenges I receive at South Bay Fire Department, as well as the dedicated and passionate
team members I work with each day.

Lieutenant Evan Parnell

Evan Parnell joined the SBFD in 2008 as a volunteer where he worked until 2019 when he was hired full-time as a career fire fighter. Prior to working full-time for SBFD Evan was a safety consultant in the construction industry conducting on-site training and safety related services for the construction and general industries. When Evan isn’t working, he enjoys renovating houses and instructing safety-related courses with his business.

Lieutenant Jake Zvirzdys

Jacob Zvirzdys has been with the South Bay Fire Department for nine years. He started as a volunteer member and in 2014 he was hired as the first career firefighter with the department. In 2020, Jacob worked his way up into a leadership position as a Lieutenant in charge of deploying training for the night and weekend shifts. He and his family have resided in the district for 32 years.

When not on shift, he enjoys spending time outdoors boating on the sound, riding side-by-sides in the dunes and hiking in the mountains.

Firefighter Paul Barrow

Paul joined the Department in July 2025 as a lateral firefighter. He started out as a volunteer with Grays Harbor Fire District 2 in 2012 going through Firefighter 1 Academy at that time and became a Firefighter/EMT.

Enjoying the challenges of this new role in life and wanting to increase his call volume from over 600 calls a year, Paul also began volunteering at neighboring South Beach Regional Fire Authority on a 48/96 shift. He became first a Part-time Firefighter/EMT with SBRFA in January 2021 and became a career Firefighter/EMT with them in September of the same year.

When not at work he enjoys spending time at home with his wife and dogs in Montesano and working on his small fleet of classic British cars.

Firefighter Keaton Christian

Keaton has lived in Washington the majority of his life. He began his fire service career in 2017 working as a resident at East Jefferson Fire Rescue. In 2021, he got a career position with Mason County Fire District 6. In between those positions he worked at Brinnon Fire Department, the United States Forest Service, as well as the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

When Keaton isn’t working, he enjoys any outdoor activity such as hiking and kayaking, spending time with his wife and their two dogs, and traveling.

“I'm grateful to be part of this community and I look forward to connecting with everyone.

Firefighter Eric Gettle

Eric Gettle currently lives in Chehalis with his wife and five-year-old son. He joined South Bay in 2018 as a volunteer. He has a background in ministry prior to working as an EMT with Olympic Ambulance. Originally from Tacoma and Gig Harbor, Eric enjoys running and hiking with his dogs, watching movies, and playing games with his family.

"I'm honored to continue serving my community with such a great Fire Department. I've loved South Bay since the day I got here. Thank you for having me as one of your Firefighters!"