New Assistant Chief
We’re excited to announce our newest Assistant Chief, Kara Putnam, the first female to hold such a rank throughout Kitsap County’s fire service.
Chief Putnam has been with Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue since 2008.
She was born and raised in Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney on a track and field scholarship. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science, she attended University of Nebraska Medical Center and graduated with certification in cytotechnology.
Kara moved to Washington State in 1997, originally working as a cytotechnologist and eventually volunteering with King County Fire District #20 from 2007 to 2008, at which time she was hired as a firefighter with Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue. From there she was:
• Promoted to Apparatus Operator in 2013
• Promoted to Lieutenant in 2017
• Promoted to Captain in 2021
Other significant accomplishments throughout Chief Putnam’s career include:
• Committee member of the Apparatus Operator (AO) team who created our AO program
• Attended the Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership Academy
• Member of the CKFR Bike Team
• CKFR Firefighter of the Year in 2016
• Member of the CKFR Peer Support Team
• Academy Coordinator for the inaugural Kitsap Fire Academy in 2022
• Training Officer from 2020 to 2022
• Volunteer EMT bike rider for the Cascade Bicycle Club
Kara lives in Seattle with her wife, Margot, and two dogs.
