New Fire Chief announced

With over 30 years of firefighting experience, Jack Spencer will join the Pittsburg Fire Department as Fire Chief effective January 5, 2026.

“We are fortunate to have Jack lead our fire department,” City Manager Daron Hall said. “He is a leader with extensive experience and knowledge of firefighting. He will be a great addition to our management team and leader for the department.”

Spencer comes with a plethora of experience and training. He has leadership experience in fire suppression, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, and emergency medical services. Spencer’s most recent role is Battalion Fire Chief for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS, leading Special Operations, including HazMat, fireboat, and National Security Special Event responses. In this position, he has led five stations of 60 personnel and led a diverse fleet of specialized apparatus. Spencer has also directed multi-million-dollar budgets and has experience in grant administration.

More About Spencer

Spencer grew up in Kansas, graduating from Valley Center High School, just outside of Wichita. The opening for the Fire Chief position in Pittsburg was, “perfect”, Spencer said, adding that he was looking for an opportunity to move closer to home as he nears retirement.

His whole life has been about firefighting. Spencer’s decision to become a firefighter was inspired by a relative, who was a firefighter in the Wichita area. In high school, Spencer took the opportunity to join the Wichita Explore Program, where he learned more about firefighting.

“I just fell in love with it, it was like one of those things where I just felt like I had a place,” he said.

Spencer attended community college in Andover, KS, where he completed an associate’s degree in applied science in fire science, then went on to the University of Maryland to study criminology and criminal justice, earning a bachelor’s degree. Spencer served as a volunteer firefighter during college, gaining more hands-on experience before he graduated.

Spencer took the opportunity to apply to the District of Columbia Fire and EMS where he served for nearly 25 years.

“It’s hard to explain, a lot of people say it’s calling,” he said regarding his many years of service, adding that serving in the Nation’s capital has been like a patriotic duty, a way for him to protect his homeland.

His career also gave him the opportunity to travel internationally for classes in the United Kingdom, South America, and Israel.

Spencer said he’s looking forward to bringing his experience and knowledge to the Pittsburg Fire Department.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been climbing through the ranks through the years. I’m really looking forward to leading a department and to helping push it into the future.”

Spencer has a wife, who is a teacher, and two children. His daughter is finishing up college and his son is completing his last year of high school before going into the U.S. Army.