PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Jeff Hairston has been sworn in as Gresham’s first Black fire chief, becoming the first African American to lead the Gresham Fire Department in the city’s history. He was officially sworn in this January after more than 20 years of service within the department.
Hairston’s path to Fire Chief was not a traditional one. Before joining the fire service, he played professional baseball for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. He says the discipline, teamwork and accountability he learned in professional sports helped prepare him for the demands of the firehouse and eventually department leadership.
Throughout his career, Hairston says mindset has been key. During a recent interview at the station, which was briefly interrupted by an emergency call, he emphasized that every call, no matter how routine it may seem, can be life-changing for someone in the community. As chief, he says leadership and representation go hand in hand, especially for young people who may not see themselves reflected in the profession…