Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District selects Richard J. Edwards as the next Fire Chief

Reno, NV (May 5, 2025) – Today, the Board of Fire Commissioners for Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) unanimously selected Chief Richard Edwards as the next fire chief.

Chief Edwards has served as the Fire Chief/Deputy Director of Emergency Services for the City of Stockton, CA, since 2020. Prior to this role, he was the Deputy Fire Chief (2019) and Fire Marshal (2017-2019).  He started his career with Stockton as a firefighter/paramedic in 2000.  Before his service with Stockton, Chief Edwards served as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Folson, CA, and the Georgetown Fire Protection District, CA.

“We are thrilled to have Chief Edwards join us at Truckee Meadows Fire,” said TMFPD Chair Alexis Hill.  “Chief Edwards has a breadth of experience, serving in nearly every role in the fire service for one of the busiest fire departments on the West Coast.  He has tackled similar challenges we are experiencing here locally, such as regional cooperation with our partner agencies and navigating difficult financial challenges. He has demonstrated the leadership, experience, and vision to take our fire district to the next level.  We are extremely fortunate to have him,” she said.

“I am honored and grateful for the trust put in me by the Board of Fire Commissioners,” said Chief Edwards.  “I am excited to get to know the fire family at TMFPD and the community.  There are many challenges facing the fire district, and I look forward to working alongside the dedicated chief officers and entire staff and getting down to work.”

Chief Edwards has a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership/Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management, both from Waldorf University.  He also holds an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Sierra College (Rocklin, CA).  He has several professional fire service certifications and is a licensed paramedic in California.

An employment contract for Chief Edwards will come before the Board of TMFPD in the coming weeks.

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