FRESNO, CA – City Manager Georgeanne White and Mayor Jerry Dyer are pleased to announce the appointment of Billy Alcorn as the 16th fire chief of the Fresno Fire Department.
“The Fresno Fire Department is entering an important time in its rich 146-year history, and Billy Alcorn is the perfect person to lead the men and women who protect our city,” said City Manager White.
“FFD now has more firefighters than ever – and the department is positioned to serve Fresno residents at the highest level. Chief Alcorn is a leader with integrity, and I have complete faith in his ability to excel in this role.”
Billy Alcorn has proven himself as an outstanding leader who takes pride in his profession and the Fresno Fire Department,” said Mayor Dyer.
“I have absolute confidence in Chief Alcorn’s ability to lead the department and to serve this community in a professional and dedicated manner.”
Chief Alcorn begins his role effective Monday, July 31, 2023.
Chief Alcorn began his career in 2003 as a paid call firefighter with the Merced County Fire Department before becoming a firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (now known as CAL FIRE). In 2004, he was hired as a firefighter with the Merced City Fire Department and rose through the ranks to become the fire chief in 2019.
Aspiring to work in a larger organization and continue his professional growth, Chief Alcorn was selected as a Deputy Chief for the Fresno Fire Department in January 2021. During his time with FFD, Chief Alcorn led the Fire Prevention and Support Services Division and the Operations Division – and also served as the Interim Fire Chief for the past five months after Chief Kerri Donis’ retirement.
“I am sincerely humbled and honored to have the confidence and support of Mayor Jerry Dyer and City Manager Georgeanne White to serve the City of Fresno and lead the men and women of the Fresno Fire Department as Fire Chief,” Alcorn said.
“The Fresno Fire Department is a progressive organization that is rich in tradition. Our members strive to be a standard of excellence in the fire service and demonstrate that day in and day out through their persistence and resilience.
“I am incredibly thankful and lucky to achieve this position and I will ensure that this department does everything possible to provide the best services to the citizens of Fresno.”
Chief Alcorn has a bachelor’s degree in fire administration and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.
During the news conference, Chief Alcorn said his first priority is to hire more firefighters.
Fresno Fire graduated 20 new firefighters on July 14, 2023, and Chief Alcorn said recruitment is open for 26 more firefighters to be hired by the City of Fresno.
You can apply on the City of Fresno website.
Listen to the reports by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
