Following the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Bob Gear, City Manager Adam Lincoln has announced the names of five finalists in the running to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position. The candidates were identified through a comprehensive national search conducted by the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
The contenders for the Pasco Fire Chief role are:
- Kevin Crowley, currently serving as Deputy Fire Chief in the City of Kennewick.
- Scott Goodwin, former Fire Chief of the City of Rio Vista and current president/CEO of ComTac Training, based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Jason Nicholl, the incumbent Fire Chief at North Lyon County Fire Protection District, located in Fernley, Nevada.
- Todd Roper, presently Chief of Hanford Fire Protection & Emergency Services at Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) in Richland.
- Nickolus Thomas, Director of Fire Operations (Deputy Fire Chief) at HMIS.
Pasco's Fire Department, set to operate five primary stations along with a training center and additional facilities, boasts a force of 103 dedicated employees. The Department provides vital emergency transport services and optimizes staff resources by flexibly assigning firefighter/medics to fire response duties as needed.
The selection process will offer the candidates an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the community and the Fire Department's facilities. Furthermore, they will participate in interview panels with administrative and technical leaders within the organization.
"All five candidates bring a wealth of fire service experience, and I look forward to discussing with each one of them along with our interview panels," said Lincoln.
The City Manager expects to announce a final selection in early June.