City Manager Noel Treat announced today that Mercer Island’s current Deputy Fire Chief Steve Heitman has accepted the position of Fire Chief, following a vacancy that opened last week when outgoing Fire Chief Chris Tubbs resigned to pursue a position in California. “We are pleased to have this opportunity to promote a highly-qualified candidate who already knows the community very well,” said Treat. “A thorough internal review of Chief Heitman’s qualifications left us in no doubt that he will be the right fit for the job.”

After first joining Mercer Island Fire Department (MIFD) in 2001 as a Firefighter, Steve Heitman has worked his way up through the various ranks, serving as Deputy Fire Chief since 2008. He has been responsible for multiple areas within the fire department, which include the divisions of Operations, Community Risk Reduction, Logistics and Support, and Training.  In addition, he has overseen emergency management, apparatus, fire code enforcement, discipline, labor relations, and budget development.

Chief Heitman has a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration from Grand Canyon University, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in homeland security through the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.