Folsom., Calif.- Folsom City Manager Kerry Miller announced today that the City has named Dan M. Haverty as Fire Chief after a comprehensive, nationwide search. Haverty will replace Eric Dutton, who will retire from the City of Folsom in November after more than 30 years of service to the community.
Haverty will oversee a staff of 76, providing complete fire suppression, rescue, prevention, public education, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical services to the Folsom community. The Folsom Fire Department operates four fire stations and is responsible for providing service to a population of over 62,000 in an area covering 24 square miles. The Department responds to over 5,400 requests for service annually – an average of 14.8 per day.
Haverty currently serves as Assistant Fire Chief for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (SMFD). The SMFD provides services through 42 stations and 750 uniformed and support personnel to nearly 600,000 people in a 417 square mile area. The City of Folsom and SMFD frequently work together in providing emergency response thanks to mutual aid partnerships. Haverty has served the SMFD since 1987, when he joined as firefighter. He was then progressively promoted through the ranks of Engineer/Paramedic (1990-1993), Captain/Paramedic (1993-2001), Battalion Chief/Paramedic (2001-2002), and Assistant Fire Chief (2002-present).
Since 2003, Haverty has concurrently served as Chief Assistant Deputy Director for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security Training and Exercise Division. Since 2002, he has also concurrently served as an Urban Search & Rescue Specialist for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
He began his career with the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District in Tahoma, Ca. Haverty holds both a Doctorate and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He also holds a Masters in Public Agency Communications as well as a Bachelors of Science in Fire Service Management from California State University, Sacramento. He serves as an Instructor for both California State University and the University of Southern California (Capital Campus).
‘Dan will be an outstanding leader for the Folsom Fire Department,’ said Kerry Miller, City Manager. ‘His tremendous emergency management, service delivery, and employee and community relations skills and experience coupled with his outstanding collaborative approach will serve our city and the region extremely well. I am delighted to welcome Dan to the Folsom team.’
‘I am excited to join the City of Folsom,’ said Haverty. ‘I am very eager to get started and work with the outstanding men and women of the Folsom Fire Department and the community to chart Folsom’s service delivery future, particularly as Folsom looks ahead to the development of its sphere of influence south of Highway 50. Folsom is a growing, dynamic community, and I am proud and honored to have this opportunity to serve its residents.’
Haverty will assume the Fire Chief position in mid-July. Current Chief Dutton previously announced that he will retire in November. This strategic overlap will allow for a smooth transition. In addition to his transition duties, Dutton will take on a senior advisory role to the City Manager on public safety issues until his retirement in November.
