PORTLAND -- For the first time ever, a woman was selected as Portland’s new fire chief.
Portland Fire Commissioner Randy Leonard has named fire marshal Erin Janssens as the Portland Fire & Rescue chief.
Janssens, 47, was also Portland's first female Division Chief and Fire Marshal.
"Erin’s rich experience, her outstanding political acumen, and the strength of her leadership and operational skills make her the right person to lead Portland Fire & Rescue," said Commissioner Randy Leonard. "Her career has been characterized by exceptional focus and consistent success, and I am thrilled by the opportunity to select Erin Janssens as Portland’s next Fire Chief."
A Portland-area native, Janssens joined Portland Fire & Rescue as a firefighter in 1988 and was promoted through the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief of Special Operations, and most recently Portland’s Fire Marshal.
The current chief, John Klum, 54, will retire in June after 34 years of service, four of which were in the lead role.
