Rachelle Hampton

So Kennedy also hadn't had any real dreams of being a firefighter when she grew up. She's not a real adrenaline junkie. One of her least favorite things about living on the island is knowing that if she ever needs to be medically evacuated, it'll have to be in one of those tiny island hopper airplanes, which she refers to as a flying tin can. Oh, shit.

So Kennedy also hadn't had any real dreams of being a firefighter when she grew up. She's not a real adrenaline junkie. One of her least favorite things about living on the island is knowing that if she ever needs to be medically evacuated, it'll have to be in one of those tiny island hopper airplanes, which she refers to as a flying tin can. Oh, shit.

So when Clara, the chief of the fire department at the time, approached Kennedy about joining the fire department, Kennedy's first question was, do I have to drive the fire truck? And Clara laughed and then said, only if you want to be chief, which is great because Kennedy does not want to be chief, especially because Clara is such a great chief. Clara had single-handedly recruited...

So when Clara, the chief of the fire department at the time, approached Kennedy about joining the fire department, Kennedy's first question was, do I have to drive the fire truck? And Clara laughed and then said, only if you want to be chief, which is great because Kennedy does not want to be chief, especially because Clara is such a great chief. Clara had single-handedly recruited...

half of the firefighting department through just raw charisma. Clara's like 5'2", but she can squat 330 pounds.

half of the firefighting department through just raw charisma. Clara's like 5'2", but she can squat 330 pounds.

She's covered in beautiful botanical tattoos, all native to Washington state, of course. Hot. What kind of skills do you think a volunteer fire chief on a small island might need? And would you want this job?

She's covered in beautiful botanical tattoos, all native to Washington state, of course. Hot. What kind of skills do you think a volunteer fire chief on a small island might need? And would you want this job?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh, you can learn those on the job.

Oh my gosh, you can learn those on the job.

Clara has all of those skills that you mentioned. Clara, charismatic. Clara, such a direct communicator. She knows how to praise early and often, but also knows how to give proper feedback. And one important thing to know about Clara is that she recently got engaged, the love of her life. The whole fire department is all like, Clara, Clara, Clara, Clara.

Clara has all of those skills that you mentioned. Clara, charismatic. Clara, such a direct communicator. She knows how to praise early and often, but also knows how to give proper feedback. And one important thing to know about Clara is that she recently got engaged, the love of her life. The whole fire department is all like, Clara, Clara, Clara, Clara.

Kennedy is also over the moon because she loves Clara and Kennedy also loves love. But Kennedy's also a little nervous because Clara is stepping down to plan her wedding. Very fair. I've never planned a wedding before, but I've heard it's a lot of work.

Kennedy is also over the moon because she loves Clara and Kennedy also loves love. But Kennedy's also a little nervous because Clara is stepping down to plan her wedding. Very fair. I've never planned a wedding before, but I've heard it's a lot of work.

Clara's like, I'm not planning a wedding and volunteer fire chiefing. I just got to do one of these things. I'm going to focus on my personal life. And so when Clara steps down, she appointed Grace Williams as her successor. Technically, Kennedy, who is assistant chief, was up for the job. But four years of the fire department have made Kennedy no less afraid of driving the fire truck.

Clara's like, I'm not planning a wedding and volunteer fire chiefing. I just got to do one of these things. I'm going to focus on my personal life. And so when Clara steps down, she appointed Grace Williams as her successor. Technically, Kennedy, who is assistant chief, was up for the job. But four years of the fire department have made Kennedy no less afraid of driving the fire truck.

It's too big and unwieldy and loud. Kennedy won't even drive a U-Haul. She's not doing that. Meanwhile, Grace loved driving the fire truck, and she's a great firefighter insofar as anyone is on this island, because it's so small, almost none of the job really entailed fighting fires.

It's too big and unwieldy and loud. Kennedy won't even drive a U-Haul. She's not doing that. Meanwhile, Grace loved driving the fire truck, and she's a great firefighter insofar as anyone is on this island, because it's so small, almost none of the job really entailed fighting fires.