COEUR D'ALENE PROMOTES THOMAS GREIF TO FIRE CHIEF

After Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel announced his retirement in December, the City of Coeur d'Alene began an internal recruitment to select a new Fire Chief.  On Monday, Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Greif, a 24-year veteran of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, was named as the City’s new Fire Chief. 

Deputy Chief Greif has held numerous leadership positions within the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, the Professional Firefighters of Idaho, and the International Association of Firefighters, and he is the current President of the North Idaho Fire Chief’s Association which encompasses the six northern Idaho counties.  Deputy Chief Greif also has extensive experience with and knowledge of the Kootenai County EMS System, and he has strong partnerships with surrounding agencies that will continue to benefit the Fire Department and the City of Coeur d'Alene.

The City’s Fire Chief oversees a Department with 70 employees, including 24 paramedics who provide fire, emergency medical first response and transport, and technical rescue services to the City’s residents and visitors.  Last year the Department responded to over 10,000 calls for service out of four stations, which makes it one of the busiest fire departments in Idaho.  In addition, the Department is a member of the Kootenai County Emergency Medical Services System (KCEMSS), providing paramedic coverage as well as transport responsibilities to the southern part of Kootenai County.  The Department is one of three State of Idaho Technical Response Teams and partners with the Idaho Disaster Dogs, a K-9 search and rescue team.

“I am deeply honored to be the next Fire Chief for the City of Coeur d’Alene as well as very excited to continue on with the legacy that Chief Gabriel and the members of this great department have built,” states Deputy Chief Grief.  “With that being said, I need to thank Chief Gabriel for the opportunities that have prepared me for the road ahead.  His retirement is well deserved!”

Deputy Chief Greif will begin his new role as Fire Chief after Chief Gabriel’s retirement on February 15, 2022.  Chief Gabriel will retire with over 30 years with the Department.

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