JEANINE NICHOLSON was sworn in on May 6, 2019, as the first openly LGBT chief in the history of the San Francisco (CA) Fire Department (SFFD). Nicholson, a 25-year veteran of the SFFD, is also the second woman to serve as chief after the retirement of her predecessor, Joanne Hayes-White. Nicholson has held positions in the SFFD including deputy chief of administration, firefighter, paramedic, lieutenant, captain, and battalion chief. During her career, Nicholson has survived second-degree burns at a 2009 arson fire, which injured five other firefighters, as well as breast cancer. She has since become a proponent of efforts to prevent cancer among firefighters.
TORYONO GREEN was named as the new chief of the Tacoma (WA) Fire Department (TFD). Green takes over the position for former Chief Jim Duggan, who retired after seven years at the helm. Green was previously the TFD’s deputy chief and is a 26-year member of the department. He has been deputy chief of administration for the past seven years and has served as assistant chief of emergency medical services and a training and medical services officer.
MIKE HEPFLER retired as the chief of the Chippewa Falls (WI) Fire and Emergency Services Department. Hepfler began his career with the department in 1985 as a reserve firefighter and was hired as a full-time firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT) in 1989, just as the department took over the ambulance service from a private contractor. Heplfer also worked as a firefighter/EMT until 1996 when he was promoted to the city’s fire prevention inspector position. In the following years, he was promoted to lieutenant, then to battalion chief of emergency medical services operations in 2012, and finally to the chief position in 2014.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
