City of Salem Announces New Fire Chief

Keller has close to 30 years of experience in the fire service, including 28 years with Portland Fire and Rescue.

Photo of Keller: Oregon Fire Chief's Association

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem City Manager, Bob Wells, has announced the appointment of Gregory (Greg) H. Keller as the Fire Chief for the City of Salem, effective July 16th.

Greg Keller will be the new Salem, Oregon Fire Chief

Keller replaces Chief Mike Knode, who has retired after 32 years of service with the Salem Fire Department. Chief Knode's last day as Salem's Fire Chief will be June 28th, 2007.

City Manager Wells states: "Greg Keller is very well qualified to be Salem's next Fire Chief. He brings a wide range of excellent experience to the City of Salem, including strong technical and managerial skills and creative approaches to solving problems. Keller is known for his collaboration efforts with a variety of local, regional, state and federal agencies, citizen groups and union representatives. I am looking forward to his joining the city team."

Keller has close to 30 years of experience in the fire service, including 28 years with Portland Fire and Rescue. As a Division Chief, he has held leadership positions in all four of Portland's Fire & Rescue divisions. While assigned to the Logistics Section at Portland Fire, he provided project management and oversight for building and remodeling fire stations and making infrastructure improvements that were funded by a ten-year, $58 Million General Obligation Bond.

As the current Division Chief of Training & Safety, Keller has overseen the initial, and now on-going, training for Portland's Urban Search and Rescue Team. He has also served as one of the Incident Commanders for Portland's Emergency Operations Center. Keller has been involved with initiatives to improve diversity hiring for firefighters and has held a leadership role in Portland Fire's Diversity Committee.

Chief Keller is an active member of the Oregon Fire Chiefs' Association, has served on the Board of Directors for the last five years, and is President-elect for 2007-08.

Keller has an A.S. degree in Fire Science from Clackamas Community College and a B.S. degree in Fire Command Administration from City University in Bellevue, Washington. He was selected from a field of 30 candidates following a nationwide search. His annual salary will be $111,500.

Chief Keller states, "I am excited to have the opportunity of serving as Chief of the Salem Fire Department and look forward to meeting and working with all of its employees. I am fortunate to follow Chief Mike Knode, and will continue developing a strong fire department." Keller and his wife will be relocating to Salem in the future.