City of Columbia selects fire chief based on his ability to modernize departments, focus on diversity

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia has named Brian Schaeffer as its next fire chief.

Schaeffer has been hired from Spokane, Washington, where he previously served as fire chief. A press release said he has worked there as both assistant chief and chief since 2005, with additional experience working at the Yakima Fire Department and Yakima Fire District 12.

He will start in his new role on Aug. 19 with an annual salary of $170,000, according to City of Columbia Spokesperson Sydney Olsen.

Olsen said Schaeffer's ability to show how he's used technology to advance his departments forward was a large part of what made him stand out.

"Having someone who continues to think like that and know that you don't ever want to sit still, you don't ever want to stop moving forward, having someone come in with that mindset is going to help us continue to modernize in new ways," Olsen said.

Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055 President Zack Privette said he thinks Schaeffer is an "incredible" hire.

"The way that he looks into the future and 'How can we use technology to better serve our customers and better serve our employees?' I just think that it shouldn't take very long for people to recognize that the guy is a very forward-looking individual and obviously has been successful at managing in the fire service and larger places than Columbia before," Privette said.

Along with being able to move the department forward, Olsen said the City is also impressed with Schaeffer's focus on diversity. She said he will be expected to focus on diversity, recruitment and retention, accreditation and addressing homelessness.

Meanwhile, Privette said Schaeffer is also known for establishing good relationships with his employees.

"My impression is just that he's an incredible human," Privette said. "He takes the fire service seriously, he's very passionate about it, he's been wildly successful in his career, and I just believe that he has the ability to advance an organization to places that may never have even thought it could get to."

Schaeffer was the only finalist for the position not currently living in Boone County, but Olsen said the City didn't go into the search process preferring a local or nonlocal candidate.

"There's obviously benefits to both ... but I think having someone come from the outside with unique experiences does always provide an opportunity for someone to have that fresh set of eyes on what we're doing and what room there is for improvement," Olsen said.

Schaeffer is taking over after Clayton Farr Jr. retired in April. The fire department has had four full-time fire chiefs in the past decade.

While Olsen couldn't provide a specific amount of time Schaeffer will stay in Columbia, she said the City is hoping he sticks around a while.

"We certainly hope that he'll stay a long time and I think he intends to stay for quite a while," Olsen said.

"If we can keep him here for 5-7 years, I think that would be a win for us," Privette said.

Olsen said Schaeffer does have ties to the Midwest. Thursday's press release said he has a master's degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and a bachelor's degree from Sterling College in Kansas City.

Other qualifications listed in Thursday's press release include:

• Chief Fire Officer
• Chief Emergency Medical Service Officer
• Fire Service Executive Development Institute graduate

"He's highlighted his ability to utilize some of those modern processes and data, which is really important for fire departments like ours that are accredited and want to maintain that," Olsen said.

In Thursday's press release, City Manager De'Carlon Seewood said, "Brian is bringing invaluable experience to this role. He has demonstrated his ability to be forward-thinking about priorities and commit to levels of service the Columbia Fire Department continually strives to achieve."

"I am excited to begin this new role in an extraordinary community like Columbia," Schaeffer said in the release. "The Columbia Fire Department is passionate about providing the best service to its community. I am honored to continue to uphold those values and help find innovative ways to protect the health of our residents and firefighters."