Seeking City Council confirmation on June 5
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 625.6740
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 11:30 a.m.
Spokane Mayor David Condon has appointed Brian Schaeffer to be Spokane’s next fire chief following a four-month, nationwide search.
Schaeffer, who has been serving in an interim capacity since January, takes over the 323-member department, pending confirmation from the City Council on June 5. Schaeffer, who has been with the Spokane Fire Department since 2005 as assistant chief, was selected from a list of 28 nationwide applicants that a selection committed narrowed to five finalists.
“Brian earned the overwhelming confidence of those who already knew him and those who got to know him a little bit better throughout the search process,” Condon said. “I can’t tell you how many times members of the community have stopped me and said why are you spending so much time recruiting and interviewing other applicants when the best candidate for the job is already doing it in an interim capacity. Ultimately, they were right and we listened, but we owed it to Spokane and Brian to allow him an opportunity to shine amongst his peers.”
Schaeffer rose to the top after a rigorous hiring process that included input from more than three dozen community members, service providers, emergency medical practitioners, fire department personnel, city staff and councilmembers who served on a selection committee and interview panels.
Condon also met with each of the City Council members to get their perspectives and feedback, and acknowledged Local 29, the Spokane Firefighters Union, for its input and recommendations on qualifications and selection panel makeup and participation on an interview panel.
The Spokane Fire Department, which was established in 1884, covers approximately 69.5 square miles from 16 fire stations.
