Photo courtesy of Kitsap Sun

Mason County Fire District 2 Chief Beau Bakken is our February ’08 Healthy Tomorrow Award recipient.

Bakken’s commitment and dedication to the residents of his District that includes Belfair and the lower Hood Canal areas were exemplified during December’s widespread flooding. North Mason residents have credited his individual rescue efforts as making a significant difference in the lives of those stranded during the storm.

In nominating Bakken for the award, Anne Whitman wrote, “during the December floods, Beau stepped up to coordinate the rescue and relief efforts. During the crisis he worked for days on end to obtain the resources needed to assure that maximum effort was made on behalf of residents in our hard hit area. After the rescue operations ended, he worked to make sure that relief efforts were ample and accessible to the community long after the flood waters had receded. ...many people would have been worse off and perhaps even left without assistance without the efforts of Chief Bakken”.

Bakken has also been an active member of the community working to establish a new hospital district as well as leading the fire department in educational activities and community events such as celebrating the North Mason High School girl’s softball championship and taking Santa into the community on a fire truck to distribute toys.

For more information on making a nomination for this award, visit healthytomorrow.kitsapsun.com.