Fire chief Lane retires as Putnam begins MI service

By Andy Nystrom • December 11, 2025 4:30 pm
Eastside Fire & Rescue’s (EF&R) Kara Putnam, left, is Mercer Island’s new deputy fire chief. Here, she is sworn in at a recent EF&R ceremony alongside her wife Margot Rosenberg. Former fire chief Ben Lane is in the background. Photo courtesy of Eastside Fire & Rescue
Eastside Fire & Rescue’s (EF&R) Kara Putnam, left, is Mercer Island’s new deputy fire chief. Here, she is sworn in at a recent EF&R ceremony alongside her wife Margot Rosenberg. Former fire chief Ben Lane is in the background. Photo courtesy of Eastside Fire & Rescue

Mercer Island City Council welcomed Eastside Fire & Rescue’s (EF&R) Kara Putnam aboard as the city’s new deputy fire chief at its Nov. 18 regular meeting.

Putnam will replace Ben Lane, who served as both EF&R’s and the city’s fire chief before retiring last month. Since 1994, Lane was part of the EF&R (previously known as King County Fire District #10) team, including a promotion to assistant fire chief in 2021 and appointment to fire chief in 2022.

On the Island, Lane served as interim fire chief for a few years before taking on the fire chief role in July of 2023.

“Lane’s dedication to the profession and determination have led the organization through recent growth and organizational change,” reads a press release.

Former EF&R Assistant Chief Will Aho was recently sworn in as the new chief of that organization.

At the meeting, Mercer Island Mayor Salim Nice and city councilmembers thanked Lane for his service to the Island and the Eastside community.

“Serving as your fire chief has definitely been an honor and a privilege,” Lane said. “The men and women of our organization provide the service to the community. They provide the best service, and when you surround yourself with great people, great things happen. There is a bright future ahead to our organization.”

As EF&R’s deputy chief of special operations and training, Putnam will oversee operations on Mercer Island, Woodinville and Duvall. During her 17 years at Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue before coming to EF&R, Putnam served as assistant chief, operations chief, training chief and safety chief.

“I feel a great honor to be here and to serve, especially Mercer Island. One of my dreams is to live in the community I serve, but I’m getting awfully close. I live in southeast Seattle, so when I go for walks along the water I can look over and see Mercer Island and the people and the community I serve, so that means a lot to me,” Putnam said.

Added Lane: “The future of leadership of the organization is no doubt in great hands, and the great service that you’re accustomed to is no doubt going to continue.”