After more than 35 years with the Renton Fire Department, including more than six years in the big chair, Chief Mark Peterson has announced plans to retire at the end of September.

“It’s time,” he said last week as a smile spread across his face. “It’s 36 1/2 years. I’ve had a good career. Now I want to spend time with my family and do things we want to do.”

Peterson began his career in the early 1970s at an explorer post in Burien, where he grew up. In 1974 he began volunteering with King County Fire Department No. 2 until they hired him on full time.

Peterson, 59, said he was drawn to helping people and wanted to give back to his community. He also wanted to do a job that kept him active.

“I couldn’t see myself doing an office job,” he said, adding with a laugh, “Of course, I ended up in an office job.”

From Burien, Peterson moved to Fire District No. 25 and then, on July 16, 1980 – he still remembers the date – Peterson joined the Renton Fire Department and spent years doing whatever job was asked of him as he learned the ropes.

Slowly, he began to climb the department’s ladder, making Lieutenant, then an EMS officer, a Captain, training captain, battalion chief and deputy chief before being named Interim Chief in January 2010 and getting the permanent position on March 23, 2010 (he remembers that exact date, too).

“I always called myself the Willie Bloomquist of the department; I’m the utility guy,” he said, citing the former Mariners player known for his ability to play every position on the field (except pitcher or catcher).

Peterson said every organization needs a guy who is willing to do whatever job best serves the group. Plus, he said, it helped prepare him for being chief because he had experience in so many aspects of department life.

“I came up through the ranks,” he said. “You learn the different functions of the fire department and you see it from different perspectives.”

Asked what stands out from his time in the department, Peterson cites a fire at McLendon Hardware in the early 80s as his “first major fire.” Peterson was on the hose line when things started to go bad.

“We had a ceiling come down on us just as soon as we got in the door,” he said.

Luckily, everyone made it out safely.

During another fire, Peterson remembers seeing heavy black smoke and watching flames roll across the ceiling, a pre-curser to what is called a “flashover,” when the conditions of a fire are so hot that it causes a near-simultaneous ignition of all the burnable material in a room.

“I was going backwards,” he said of fighting that one.

During his 30 years in the department, Peterson said the work of firefighters has also changed dramatically, from fires burning hotter because of an increase in man-made materials like plastics to better protection from new equipment to protect against it.

In addition, firefighters are now doing much more on the medical side, including community outreach such as checking blood sugar or cardiac monitoring, in addition to things like Hazmat responses and technical rescues.

“We’re providing more services,” he said of the modern department. “Its trying to meet the needs of the community.”

As chief, Peterson said one of his biggest contributions was work on the department’s mission, vision and values initiative, which they worked on after bringing Fire District 40 into the department and realized the two departments had different cultures that need to be reconciled. An 18-month process resulted in the “PILAR” campaign: Professionalism, integrity, leadership, accountability and respect.

“This came up from the organization. This wasn’t me saying this,” Peterson said of the vision. “I believe they are really taking hold in the organization.”

Peterson also worked hard on the transition from a city fire department to a Regional Fire Authority, which voters approved earlier this year. Peterson called it a “huge accomplishment” and said it sets up the department with its own funding source so it does not have to compete with other city departments and can work directly with citizens to fund the department’s needs.

It has left the department in “solid footing,” he said and will finally lead to the construction of a Kennydale station, first identified as a need in 1987.

He also recalled a more personal moment, a time, he said, “we made a difference.” Peterson told a story of a young girl who fell through a glass door. The glass shattered and went everywhere, including a piece into the girl’s heart. Firefighters and medics were able to save the young woman, who Peterson said he checked in on regularly as she grew up to be a healthy adult with a good quality of life.

But perhaps his greatest challenge, he said, was steering the department through the recession and the limitations that brought. Peterson said he was proud of the way the department found grants to increase staffing until, post-recession, those positions could be permanently added to the budget.

But Peterson said he doesn’t think too much about his past work or how his time as chief will be remembered.

“I struggle with legacies because it’s not about me,” he said.

Though when pressed, Peterson said he was most proud of the people he had hired to staff the department.

“Our community is served by some of the best around,” he said.

Councilman Don Persson said he has known Peterson for years and praised his leadership in the department and commitment to the city.

“He’s always been an excellent, dedicated employee,” Persson said. “He’s been a fantastic fire chief and I’m sorry to see him leave.”

Persson said Peterson was always most concerned about his employees and about the citizens of Renton.

“He always put them ahead of any personal thing of his,” Persson said.

Mayor Denis Law agreed, calling Peterson a “dependable, trustworthy administrator” and praising his commitment to collaboration with other departments, saying it has made the city more effective.

“Renton’s been lucky to have Mark,” Law said. “You can’t find someone more dedicated to service.”

Councilman Ed Prince, who chairs the Regional Authority governing board also cited Peterson’s leadership.

“Mark has been a rock for the department through the recession and everything else,” he said. “His steadiness through uncertain times, to me, was a huge benefit to the department and the city.”

As he prepares to leave, Peterson said the thing he will miss the most is the camaraderie with other firefighters and said his only regret is that sometimes the trappings of being chief prevented him from getting out the stations as much as he would have liked.

“That’s the part I will miss the most,” he said, “the people.”

Asked his advice for the next person to sit in his office, it was once again the staff and the citizens he focused on.

“Think of the people,” he said. “It’s easy to make decisions and not think of the impact on the (employees).”

Peterson said he was excited to begin his retirement with his wife Kelly and planned to spend time with his two daughters and three grandsons, but he also had a message for the citizens of Renton.

“Thank you for letting me serve for the last 36 1/2 years,” he said.

Chief Peterson’s last day is Sept. 30.