After 36 years serving as a firefighter, Assistant Chief Roger Moeder said goodbye to Clallam County Fire District 3 on Sept. 30.

Family and friends including dozens of current and former faces in the department including retired fire chiefs Steve Vogel, Tom Lowe and Lawrence Kettel, gathered to honor Moeder for his service before retiring.

Asked about his favorite part of the job, Moeder said, “the people.”

“The fire department isn’t about one person. It’s about being part of the team,” he said.

Moeder started in 1980 after being hired through a government training program and eventually was hired as a career firefighter permanently in January 1982.

Vogel said he appreciated Moeder’s opinions and working with him through their years together.

“It’s been an honor to serve with you,” he said.

Moeder worked with Vogel to advocate to the City of Sequim to keep the city’s code for roads wide enough for emergency vehicles and they helped charter the fire district’s union, IAFF local 2933. He also helped transition the City of Sequim’s fire department and Fire District 3 into one entity.

His wife Linda said, “the fire department was the best thing that ever happened to him.”

Prior to serving in the fire department, Moeder drove delivery trucks in Southern California.

Moeder said his wife was the best thing to happen to him and that he met her through a mutual interest in hang gliding. He stopped hang gliding after 23 years.

The couple resides in Dungeness and plans to stay local but travel in their fifth-wheel. Moeder plans to continue fishing, hunting, crabbing, shrimping and he’s been saving home projects to do, he said.

His son Tanner Wilson and his wife Rachel were there for the ceremony. He also has two daughters, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who were unable to attend.

Moeder retired as an assistant chief of fire prevention and as fire marshal.

His successor is going to be announced in the coming weeks and the position will be renamed assistant chief of risk reduction and planning, Fire Chief Ben Andrews said.

Fire commissioners talk budget

The Board of Commissioners of Clallam County Fire District No. 3 holds a special board meeting from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Security Services Northwest Inc., 3501 Old Gardiner Road, Fort Discovery. Commissioners are having a finance and budget workshop. Call 683-4242 for more information.