The search for Eastside Fire & Rescue Chief Lee Soptich’s replacement continues, as the Eastside Fire regional board of directors will seek bids from recruiters this month.

Sammamish Councilmember and EF&R board member Bob Keller, who is also the chair of the personnel committee, said EF&R hopes to pick the recruiter by mid-June.

Soptich, who’s been the Eastside Fire & Rescue chief since 1995, initially made the announcement to the board in December 2014.

Keller said the decision to open it up to many people made sense, as most of the partners are not familiar will all Eastside Fire candidates.

He said this should not discourage internal workers from applying.

Keller expects the board will announce its next chief at the end of this year. Ideally, the new chief would begin Feb. 1, 2016.

Eastside Fire & Rescue partnership includes Issaquah, Sammamish, North Bend and fire districts 10 and 38 in unincorporated King County.