After volunteering more than 28 years to firefighting in Clallam County, Mike DeRousie, assistant chief of Clallam Fire District No. 2, is preparing to retire Friday.
DeRousie, who also owns the Spa Shop Pellet Heat Co. in Port Angeles, said that at 64, it’s time for him to retire from the fire service, spend more time with his 10 grandchildren and begin to give back to his family who have had to accept the erratic schedule of a volunteer firefighter. He will continue the Spa Shop. “My family has always been really good with me getting up and leaving in the middle of the night or in the middle of a movie,” DeRousie said.
“They have been really good about that, so I think it’s time to give back to them.
“I think it’s time for me to move on and leave it to the younger people so I can do more things with my family.”