"We Care"

The office of the Fire Chief is located at 600 Eleventh Street right next to Fire Station #1.  He can be reached at (209) 572-9590 during normal business hours.

Fire Chief Jim Miguel

Fire Chief, James Miguel embodies the culture of the Modesto Fire Department. His dedication to community and enthusiasm for Fire Service is evident as he oversees the daily operations of the department.  Jim began his career with the Modesto Fire Department on November 30, 1982. Beginning as a Firefighter, he quickly moved up to Engineer, Captain and then Battalion Chief. In addition, he has added Fire Investigator, Deputy Fire Marshal and Department Training Officer to his experiences. Jim holds an Associate’s in Science degree from Modesto Junior College,  a Bachelors degree from Cogswell College, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, and has recently achieved his Masters of Science in Executive Fire Service Leadership.

The best part of being in Fire Service, according to Jim, is "…leaving work each day having made a difference in someone’s life." In his own words:

"The responsibilities of a firefighter are very much appreciated by those we serve…We have the responsibility to care for our community and the fire service with the same respect and appreciation we receive. If we choose to, we can and should mean much more to our community that just fire protection. Using our time, talents and energy, we can significantly improve the quality of life of our customers."

Jim has lived his life dedicated to this community and has taught his family the joy of serving others.

To the next generation of Firefighters, Jim says, "Never take for granted how blessed you are to be a member of this outstanding organization."

We agree with Jim that the most important person in the city is the one we are helping right now. That’s the way it should be.

Who is in the office of the Fire Chief?

In addition to the Fire Chief, there is a staff of employees who assist in, and coordinate, critical department-wide operations  therefore providing critical service to the community.  In addition to the six members of the  Chief's administrative staff, the office of the Fire Chief houses two Division Chiefs  who are responsible for the 24-hour operation of the department: Emergency Services and  Emergency Preparedness and Planning to the community. 

What does the Chief do?

The job of the Fire Chief is to plan, direct and review the activities and operations of the Fire Department.  These duties include fire suppression, hazardous material mitigation, fire and life safety code compliance, emergency medical services and administrative support services.  The Chief receives administrative direction from the City Manager and provides periodic reports about fire issues; assesses community needs; coordinates assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies; administers a multi-million dollar operating budget; and  is the department  representative at community functions.