During the Jan. 22. Snoqualmie City Council meeting, Snoqualmie Fire Department Lieutenant Robert Lasswell and Fire Chief Mike Bailey were presented with pins for their respective promotions.

In his 21 years at the department, Lasswell has served as a firefighter, engine operator, active officer and longtime acting officer when the department experienced vacancies for lieutenant positions.

“Robert has excelled in these positions and has proved that he is ready for this next step in his career,” Bailey said. “I have the utmost confidence in his abilities and am looking forward to him joining our leadership team.”

Lasswell oversees the department’s personal protective gear program and is a wildland program lead. His promotion is effective on Feb. 1.

Bailey then took to the podium to look back on his career at the department and thank the council for their confidence in him as fire chief. The promotion was unanimously confirmed by the city council at the December 11 meeting.

A member of the Snoqualmie Fire Department for nearly 25 years, Bailey spent four years as deputy fire chief and served two terms as interim fire chief in 2021 and 2023.

Bailey is also an executive fire officer with the National Fire Academy and a graduate of the University of Fire Leadership and the FEMA National Emergency Management Academy.

“Through all the 25 years, the one constant has been the people, the relationships and the bonds with the members of this great department,” Bailey said. “I look forward to leading the department into the future while honoring those who have served before.”

Last on the department’s agenda was celebrating longtime volunteer Catherine (Cat) Cotton’s retirement upon her election to the Snoqualmie City Council.

Cotton, a fire department member for 22 years, was recognized for the time she spent responding to calls, organizing the department’s annual pancake breakfast, leading memorable medical training and her service on the board of the Snoqualmie Volunteer Firefighters Association

“Thank you for your friendship and service to the citizens of Snoqualmie,” Bailey said. “If you tackle your new position with even a quarter of the effort you put into the fire departments, the citizens of Snoqualmie will be well represented.”

Cotton looks forward to continuing to serve the community in her new role.