Mike Myers, 49, who retired as Las Vegas fire chief in 2013 after a 26-year career with the department and went on to work as chief of a fire department in St. Charles, Missouri, has been selected to be Portland's next fire chief.
City Commissioner Dan Saltzman said Monday that Myers was selected from 31 applicants in a national search. The Bureau of Human Resources narrowed the field to 10. A panel, which included the fire union president, human resource representatives and a citizen on the fire budget advisory committee, whittled the pool to five, and Saltzman selected Myers. Myers was a "leader in the emergency medical side'' of the Las Vegas fire service -- important considering that 70 to 80 percent of the Portland fire department's calls are medical, Saltzman said.
"Chief Myers has the right skill set to approach the complex challenges our Fire & Rescue Bureau is facing with rapid growth and changing demands and, specifically would be able to bring a cutting-edge approach to the Emergency Medical Services side of the bureau,'' the commissioner said.