Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann | City of Columbia
Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann | City of Columbia
The City of Columbia has named Brian Schaeffer as its next fire chief. Schaeffer will assume the role on August 19.
“Brian is bringing invaluable experience to this role,” City Manager De’Carlon Seewood stated. “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.”
Brian Schaeffer previously served as the assistant fire chief and fire chief of the Spokane, Washington Fire Department from 2005 to 2024. Before his tenure at the Spokane Fire Department, Schaeffer was deputy fire chief at the Yakima Fire Department in Yakima, Washington, and deputy fire chief at Yakima Fire District 12.
Schaeffer’s educational background includes a master of leadership education from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Sterling College in Kansas City, Missouri. His professional qualifications include being a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Chief Emergency Medical Service Officer (CEMSO), and he is a graduate of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI).
“I am excited to begin this new role in an extraordinary community like Columbia,” Schaeffer said. “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.”
Chief Schaeffer also actively participates in national organizations that advance prehospital care, improve firefighter safety, and reduce community risk.
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