Page 28 - InCommand Volume 36

Michael A. Washington, Sr.
Meet the Member
Individual Introduction
Name: Michael A. Washington, Sr.
Current Department: Cincinnati Fire Department Current Position: 18th Fire Chief
Years in the Fire Service: 31
Career “Journey”:
• Began as a part time firefighter for Green Township Fire Department and Colerain Fire Department in 1991
• Joined Cincinnati Fire Department in 1993
• Promoted to Fire Apparatus Operator in 1996
• Obtained Paramedic certification in 1995
• Promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 1999 (Engine 23)
• Promoted to Fire Captain in 2005 (Engine 3, Ladder 2, Fire Training Center, Public
Information Office, Emergency Communication Center)
• Promoted to District Chief in 2013 (District 3, District 4, Bureau of Fire Training)
• Promoted to Assistant Chief in 2020 (Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction)
• Promoted to Fire Chief in May 2021
• Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Service Engineering Technology from the University of
Cincinnati, as well as Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute
• Graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program
• Successfully completed the Los Angeles City Fire Department’s Leadership Academy
• Anticipated Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College in fall
2021
• Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati
• Fire Service Instructor at Cincinnati State Community College and the Ohio Fire
Academy
Area Demographics
Population Served: Cincinnati Population is 301,394 - 7% rural, 27% commercial/ industrial, 66% residential
Square Miles Covered: 77 square miles and 25 miles of shoreline on the Ohio River Form of Government: City
Source of Funding for Political Jurisdiction Served: Taxes
Source of Funding for Department: General Fund
Annual Budget: 134 million dollars Department Profile
Roster: Full time department; Authorized strength: 841; Current strength number: 778
Daily Staffing: 193
Stations: 26
Apparatus: 26 Engines, 12 Ladder Trucks, 12 medic units, 2 heavy rescues, 1 ARFF, 1 Hazmat Unit, 1 Bomb Unit, 4 Zodiac Boats, 1 Fire Boat
Minimum Qualifications for Entry Level Firefighters: None. Training is done in-house. Recruits graduate with Firefighter I and II, Inspector, and EMT-B certification
Annual Incident Response Data: 2020: 15,657 fire and rescue incidents and 57,507 medical incidents
28 InCommand OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org