The Olympia Fire Department has a new chief, firefighters union announces. Who is he?
Matt Morris has been hired as the next chief of the Olympia Fire Department, taking over for interim chief Todd Carson, who was on the job for just over a year.
The Olympia Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 468, posted Friday on its social media about the hire, saying they’re proud to welcome Morris to the city. Morris has more than 33 years of experience in fire service, according to the post, having begun his career as a reserve firefighter/EMT in 1990 in Boulder City, Nevada.
The city expects to announce his hire this week, City Manager Jay Burney said. City officials had put off their search for a full-time chief until they knew if a Regional Fire Authority was in Olympia’s future. The measure failed to capture enough votes in April.
After his time in Boulder City, Morris then served as a firefighter and paramedic in Henderson, Nevada. He stayed there for 22 years, advancing to Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief and finally, Fire Chief. He’s since spent the last six years as the Fire Chief for the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority in Kent.
Before his 33-year career in the fire service, Morris was in the U.S. Navy, where he was assigned to an attack squadron known as the “Thunderbolts,” which served in the Vietnam War and later in Grenada and Lebanon.
“Chief Morris served on three deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean before being honorably discharged,” the social media post reads.
Morris graduated from the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program, according to the post, and he has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration. He’s also a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
The Olympia Firefighters Union shared that Morris has two adult children who also live in the Pacific Northwest: a son who is a firefighter in King County, and a daughter who works in Human Resources. Morris’ fiancé is a longtime Thurston County resident and works in the aging and long-term care field.
Morris said he’s humbled to get the chance to work with the OFD and to help build a vibrant and safer community.
“I have a philosophy that is value-based, and focuses on taking care of people and building strong relationships,” Morris said. “The Olympia Fire Department has a strong legacy of being caring leaders in the community and beyond.”
The city of Olympia hired GMP Consultants, a recruiting firm out of Snoqualmie, for the hiring process.
