Fire Administration

Fire Chief Mitch Snyder began his firefighting career in 1981 as a volunteer firefighter in Tumwater, Washington. After graduating from Tumwater High School, he enrolled in the Fire Service Program at Bates Vocational College in Tacoma, Washington.

 

In March 1984, Chief Snyder was hired as a full-time firefighter with the City of Richland, Washington. Fourteen months later, he accepted a position with the City of Kent Fire Department—now known as the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority—where he served for nearly 34 years.

 

Throughout his 26 years on shift, Chief Snyder rose through the ranks from Firefighter to Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief, responding to 911 calls and leading emergency operations. He later transitioned into an administrative role as a Division Chief, where he served as the department’s Emergency Medical Services Officer. In this role, he focused on improving emergency response efficiency.

 

Chief Snyder led the development of the FDCARES program (Fire Department Community Assistance, Referrals, and Educational Services), a pioneering initiative designed to address non-emergent medical calls. By assembling a multidisciplinary team of firefighters, nurses, and social workers, the program helped divert low-acuity calls away from front-line crews—keeping emergency responders available for critical incidents.

 

In January 2019, Chief Snyder was appointed Fire Chief for the Gresham Fire Department in Oregon, the state’s fourth-largest city. Under his leadership, the department also provided contracted fire services to the cities of Troutdale, Wood Village, and Fairview, as well as the unincorporated area of Fire District 10. During his tenure, he was elected Gresham Fire Department’s Employee of the Year and served on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association.

 

Chief Snyder joined the Town of Florence in September 2023, where he continues to serve as Fire Chief for the Florence Fire and Medical Department.