Portland fire chief to retire in March

The city of Portland said Monday that Ryan Gillespie, the fire chief, will retire in early March.

After becoming a fireman at Portland Fire & Rescue in 1998, Gillespie rose through the ranks of the organization. After Sara Boone retired in the summer of 2023, he is the second municipal fire chief to retire in less than two years. According to the city, Gillespie had held leadership roles since 2019 and was appointed interim head after Boone retired.

Gillespie stated in a press release on Monday that Portland Fire & Rescue has faced many obstacles together, but our crew has always risen up and demonstrated professionalism, compassion, and sacrifice, always prioritizing the community. I am incredibly grateful to our team as I start my next chapter, and I have no doubt that Portland Fire & Rescue has a bright future.

To choose a temporary fire chief, Gillespie will collaborate with City Administrator Mike Jordan and Deputy City Administrator for Public Safety Mike Myers, according to city authorities.

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