PULLMAN, WA – Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Scharnhorst has been appointed to serve as Interim Fire Chief for the City of Pullman following the resignation of Fire Chief Brett Nash, effective Friday, August 1, 2025.

Scharnhorst has been with the Pullman Fire Department for over 15 years, beginning as Deputy Chief of Training in 2009. In that role, he oversaw all aspects of firefighter training before being promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations in 2013.

He will hold the interim position until a permanent Fire Chief is selected. However, city officials say a long-term decision will not be made until a new City Administrator is hired. Interviews for that position are set to begin in August, with hopes of filling the role in the fall.

The City of Pullman has not yet announced a timeline for hiring a new Fire Chief.