The Police and Fire Commission (PFC) voted unanimously Friday evening to extend a conditional offer to Chris Carbonto to replace Steven Davis as Madison’s next fire chief.
Carbon has been a member of the Madison Fire Department (MFD) since 1999 where he has most recently served as the department’s division chief overseeing emergency medical services training and logistics.
Carbon is one of four finalist candidates considered for the position, including Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bavery, Assistant Chief of Personnel Tracy Burrus and Lieutenant Theodore “Ted” Higgins who were interviewed by the PFC a week previous to Friday.
In his interview, Carbon stated that as chief he hopes to bolster MFD’s engagement and recruitment efforts, including furthering employee development as well as cadet programs. In his interview, Carbon also emphasized his hope to ensure the MFD remains an organization focused on community service.
“My big vision for the MFD and more importantly for the city of Madison is to make sure that we stay focused on the community service aspects of what we do,” Carbon said. “It’s important to understand that everything that we do makes an impact for better or for worse, and the opportunities we have to interface with the community are oftentimes at some of the most challenging times for our community. So understanding and reminding ourselves of the impact that we make as a collective organization… it really has everything to do with the experience that we leave our community with.”
Following the MFD’s decision, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway congratulated Carbon, stating that she looks forward to working with him following Steven Davis’ retirement on April 1.
“Carbon has worked his way up the Fire Department’s career ladder since 1999, serving as firefighter and paramedic before becoming division chief in charge of Emergency Medical Services Training and Logistics,” Rhodes-Conway said. “He brings a patient-centered approach to his work and supported the continued development of the CARES alternative response team for mental health emergencies. I look forward to working with him on this and other innovations at the Fire Department.”
