Fairfax County’s next fire rescue chief will come from another D.C. suburb.
Fairfax Supervisors have selected John S. Butler, the chief of Howard County’s Fire Rescue Department, to fill the position vacated by Chief Richard Bowers, who retired in April. Butler will start September 1.
Butler has been with the Howard County department since 1993 as a firefighter-paramedic. He served in a variety of roles in that department including battalion chief, emergency medical services chief and administrative chief. Butler was appointed Chief in 2014. “After an extensive search including a community engagement process, Fairfax County is pleased to appoint Chief Butler to the position of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Chief,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova.