City of Columbia names outside candidate as new fire chief

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia announced on Thursday the name of its next fire chief.

According to a press release, the city chose Brian Schaeffer from Spokane, Washington from the final four candidates. Schaeffer was the only finalist not currently living in Boone County.

“Brian is bringing invaluable experience to this role,” City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said in the release. “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.”

Shaeffer previously worked as the assistant fire chief and fire chief in Spokane since 2005, according to the press release. He also has experience working at the Yakima Fire Department and Yakima Fire District 12.

“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.”

Schaeffer will start as the fire chief for Columbia on Aug. 19. He is taking over after Clayton Farr Jr. retired in April.