Ore. city sees second fire chief retirement in less than 2 years

Portland Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie will retire in early March

December 21, 2024 12:00 PM

(Left to right) Portland fire chief Ryan Gillespie, Portland Community Safety Director Mike Myers, Fairview City Councilor E’an Todd and Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez testified in front before the Multnomah County Board on July 25 in favor of reducing ambulance staffing requirements to boost response times.

By Hillary Borrud
oregonlive.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie will retire in early March, the city announced on Monday.

Gillespie worked his way up the ranks at Portland Fire & Rescue since joining the agency as a firefighter in 1998. He is the second city fire chief to retire in less than two years after Sara Boone retired in the summer of 2023. Gillespie, who was named interim chief upon Boone’s retirement, had been in leadership positions since 2019, according to the city.

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“Together, Portland Fire & Rescue has faced numerous challenges and through it all, our team has continually stepped up and shown professionalism, compassion, and sacrifice, always putting the community first,” Gillespie said in a press release Monday. “As I embark on my next chapter, I have immense gratitude for our team, and I am confident the future of Portland Fire & Rescue is bright.”

City officials said Gillespie will work with City Administrator Mike Jordan and Deputy City Administrator for Public Safety Mike Myers to identify an interim fire chief.

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