St. Pete Fire Rescue has its first Black fire chief [Video]

Keith Watts is the 11th fire chief to serve the department since it was founded in 1907.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch named Keith Watts as the first Black fire chief in St. Petersburg Fire Rescue’s history.

According to a news release from the city, Watts joined SPFR in 2018 as the Division Chief of Administration and recently served as the department’s interim fire chief.

“With 30-plus years of experience in public safety and organizational management, Chief Watts will lead the department with a commitment to innovation, safety, equitable practices, and community engagement,” city officials stated in the release.

Watts is the 11th fire chief to serve the department since it was founded in 1907.

“I am deeply honored to serve as Fire Chief for this dedicated team of professionals,” Watts stated. “Together, we will continue to prioritize safety, innovation, and community engagement, ensuring that we …

Tags Community Engagement, Community Management Skills, Community Management Tips, Managing Community