Ilwaco terminates Archer as fire chief

Published 10:12 pm Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Jeffrey Archer made his initial court appearance last week and pleaded not guilty at his Jan. 16 arraignment.

ILWACO — The embattled leader of the Ilwaco Fire Department who is facing a litany of criminal charges relating to alleged child rape and molestation has been fired, city officials confirmed Wednesday evening.

After initially placing Jeff Archer on administrative leave the same day as his Jan. 9 arrest, Ilwaco Mayor Eddie Hillard terminated the employment of the chief of the city’s fire department “effective immediately,” according to a Jan. 21 statement shared with the Observer.

“The City acted under its authority to manage at-will employment positions in accordance with municipal and state law, including the Mayor’s appointment and removal authority under RCW 35A.12.090,” the statement reads.

Archer had been serving as the chief of the city’s fire department since 2021, and had been employed full-time in the position since 2023 when he was arrested by the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office in Ocean Park on Jan. 9. He previously worked for Pacific County Fire District No. 1 starting in 2009 as a paramedic and division chief.

He pleaded not guilty on Jan. 16 to more than three dozen felony counts brought by the Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office. He remains in the county jail on $500,000 bail as of Jan. 21.

The fire chief position in Ilwaco is classified as an at-will employee, meaning they can be fired without due process, without notice or without a hearing. For Washington cities and towns operating under the mayor-council system of government, the authority to hire and fire at-will employees lies with the mayor.

“An Interim Fire Chief has been appointed, and the Ilwaco Fire Department remains fully operational and committed to serving this community with professionalism, courage, and integrity,” the statement concludes.

Holly Beller, the city administrator, confirmed Jan. 22 that Brian Davis, the department’s assistant chief, had been appointed as interim fire chief. He initially began serving in the role when Archer was placed on administrative leave.