Copper Fire Announces New Chief

On June 11, 2011, the CFPD Board of Directors announced at a public board meeting that the Copperopolis Fire Protection District Fire Chief position was offered to Steve DeChellis of Coeur d'Alene Idaho.  Upon successful of a background investigation, Mr. DeChellis will assume the position of Fire Chief possibly as early as the beginning of July.

DeChellis has experience in the fire service in Burbank and Los Angeles, as well as serving in the capacity of Fire Chief in Saudi Arabia, Alaska, and Mississippi. He holds a Bachelors degree in Fire Science and is currently enrolled in a Masters Program.

When the Board was asked why he would move to California for a part-time job, Larry Crabtree (CFPD District Consultant) explained that Mr. DeChellis' family resides in California.

According to a Ketchican news site, "De Chellis was born in 1952 and raised in Glendale, a town outside of Los Angeles. He lived in Glendale and worked for the Los Angeles Fire Department for 20 years before retiring in 1993.  After retiring, De Chellis lived in Coeor d' Alene, Idaho from 1993 until 1996. From Coeor d' Alene De Chellis moved to Saudi Arabia where he worked as the Deputy Fire Chief with the Aramco Fire Department from 1996-2001. From May 2001 to May 2003, De Chellis was the Fire Chief in Soledad, California which is a small town of 12,000 east of Monterey. In June 2003, De Chellis was offered and accepted the position of Fire Chief for the North Tongass Fire Department."

A full press release is to be issued Monday.

2003 File photo from North Tongass Fire Department