Fire Chief Douglas A. Holton

Douglas A. Holton is the Fire Chief for the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD). He is the first African-American Fire Chief in the department’s history, and was also the first African-American Fire Chief for the Saint Paul Fire Department from 2003 to 2007.

Holton was sworn in as Milwaukee’s 15th Fire Chief on June 4, 2007. He leads a department comprised of approximately 1000 fire, emergency medical, and civilian members. Prior to becoming Fire Chief, Holton successfully advanced through the MFD ranks over a 25-year time span. He served in the MFD as Deputy Chief of Fire Operations, Deputy Chief of Instruction and Training, Deputy Chief of Construction and Maintenance, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, and Firefighter.

Chief Holton’s top priority since the beginning of his term is firefighter safety. Armed with the passion to protect firefighters and citizens alike, he has implemented several innovative concepts to increase safety, including further enhancing the position of Incident Safety Officer, which was created to minimize risks to firefighters during a working fire. He also revised the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) company concept to increase its effectiveness at all working fires. Additionally, to decrease the potential of paramedics sustaining back injuries while transporting patients, the department purchased state-of-the-art hydraulic cots and Stair-Pro Stair Chairs.

In March 2008, Holton proactively combated the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) by executing a novel Carbon Monoxide Meter Program. The CO Meter Program enables all MFD engine companies and trucks to be equipped with a single-gas meter. The CO Meter Program lowers the amount of time firefighting personnel and citizens are exposed to CO; thereby, lowering the risk of CO poisoning.

Under Chief Holton’s leadership, the department’s recently state-approved EMS Training Center is flourishing. The MFD has taken responsibility for providing both EMT and EMT refresher training for its members. The ongoing implementation of the Tactical Emergency Medical Service (TEMS) program with the Milwaukee Police Department, and becoming an active participant with the Southeastern Wisconsin Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, are examples of Chief Holton’s desire to collaborate with other agencies to provide a better quality of service to the community. Projects like this are all vetted through the joint labor-management Governance Committee in an effort to provide information and allow for input from all areas of the department.

Some of Chief Holton’s immediate goals for the department are to create an internal fire investigation team, to diversify department personnel to reflect the City of Milwaukee demographics, and to increase smoke detector legislation by introducing hard-wired smoke detectors in the community.

Members of the MFD have been recognized for outstanding service to the community through the reception of numerous awards since Holton took office, including the Melvin Lurie Prize for labor-management cooperation.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Chief Holton is one of nine children. He graduated from Marquette University High School and furthered his education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice and a Master’s Degree in urban studies.

Chief Holton is an active servant of his community, and an active member of several associations, including, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Metro Chiefs Association, Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, and National Fire Protection Association.

He and his wife, Josie, have celebrated 34 years of marriage and currently reside on the east side of Milwaukee. They are the proud parents of three grown children and three grandchildren.