Kyle Ohashi has appeared regularly on local news channels, websites and in newspapers as the public information officer (PIO) for the Kent-based Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority for the last 15 years.
But those days of informing the public about fires and fire safety will come to a halt the end of June when Ohashi retires after 30 years with the department.
“I’ll miss 2 a.m. phone calls, blinding camera lights and answering the same question eight different times,” Ohashi said in an email about his retirement to media members and to thank them for making his PIO job “easy and enjoyable.”
Joe Root, who has been with Puget Sound Fire for more than 28 years, will replace Ohashi.
“I’m retiring to Gig Harbor and Rancho Mirage (California), traveling and sleeping in,” Ohashi said in an email to the Kent Reporter. “That’s all I have planned so far.”