Brian Schaeffer
Fire Chief, Columbia Fire Department
Job description: The fire chief is responsible for leading and managing the city’s fire department. Specifically, my focus is leadership and management; budgeting and resource allocation; and regulatory compliance and policy implementation.
What is your background/experience with fire protection and emergency services? I am a second-generation firefighter and began my fire service career in 1989 as a firefighter. I have worked as a firefighter/paramedic for the Central Jackson County (Mo.) Fire Protection District; fire chief in suburban St. Louis; deputy fire chief for the city of Yakima, Washington; assistant fire chief for the city of Spokane, Washington; and interim fire chief and fire chief of the Spokane department until retiring in 2024. I returned to the Midwest in August after being selected to lead the Columbia Fire Department as the organization’s fourteenth fire chief. I am a Chief Medical Service Officer (CEMSO) through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). I currently serve on a national incident management team and numerous national public safety and health-related committees.
Hometown: Freeburg, IL
Years lived in Columbia: Less than 1.
Favorite recent project: Purchasing a home and everything that comes along with moving across the country.
Why you are passionate about your job: The title of fire chief isn’t my position, it is my passion. The fire service has incredible meaning for me as a person. I grew up in it, and service has been in my DNA from a very early age. When I was eight months old, my family’s home in Freeburg, Illinois, was destroyed by fire. My mother escaped the blaze with me. My father was a volunteer with the local volunteer fire department.
Tell us something about the Columbia Fire Department that most people might not know about or understand: The pension system for firefighters at the CFD is often misunderstood. Public pensions for firefighters are essential for ensuring the financial stability of those who dedicated their lives to protecting the community. The pension system for CFD members is not a state system and has different tiers. Still, it operates as a defined benefit plan, guaranteeing retired firefighters an income based on a formula considering their years of service and salary. This system is funded through contributions from firefighters during their careers, contributions from the city of Columbia — supported by taxpayer revenue — and investment income. Well-funded pensions help retain experienced, skilled firefighters who respond to our city’s most critical emergencies. Their job risks, constant carcinogen exposure, and the frequency with which our people are exposed often require early retirement compared to other normal careers.
You have been a big proponent of technology and AI, in particular. What is your background in those areas and how can AI help improve processes and response times for CFD? Tools like AI-driven deployment analytics transform how we deploy resources and improve operational performance. Improving our business equates to lives saved, property damage reduced, and risk avoided. Advanced analytics platforms like Dark Horse Analytics allow us to analyze historical data, response patterns, and community needs to refine our deployment strategies. AI-driven deployment tools don’t replace the experience and dedication of our firefighters. No machine ever will. What it does help us do is amplify our ability to allocate resources effectively and plan for the future, ensuring the safety of the community and our firefighters.
Biggest lesson learned in your working life: People don’t remember what you say or do — they remember how you make them feel.
Greatest strength: I love to learn and am not afraid of breaking things and making mistakes if it makes us better.
Greatest weakness or challenge: I am not the most patient person. I love working in a high functioning team like we have now at the CFD though — and just like this first snowstorm, their performance is amazing.
What you do for fun: I enjoy flyfishing and mountain biking.
What have you discovered about Columbia – a venue, an event, or a dining experience – that you can’t wait for others to experience (either again or for the first time)? I have a mountain bike and the quality of our trails and parks are incredible. I have lived in several communities and cannot overstate how wonderful our natural resources are here. The commitment to creating and maintaining green space is so important for a healthy community — and Columbia is a best practice.
Who makes up your family: Just me.
Most people don’t know that you: Can make a huge impact by simply showing up for others and leading with the mission first, and people always.
