BALTIMORE, MD. (Wednesday, July 26, 2023) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that he will nominate Chief James Wallace as the new Fire Chief to lead the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD). 

As a 33-year fire service professional of the Baltimore City Fire Department, Chief Wallace brings a wealth of experience and an exceptional track record of leadership, and dedication to the Baltimore City Fire Department and it’s emergency response team. He has led the Office of Emergency Management since March 2020, first serving as the Acting Director before becoming the permanent director in October 2021. Chief Wallace began his BCFD career as a paramedic, before becoming a firefighter/paramedic and then being promoted to Fire Lieutenant. He has since served various levels of leadership within the department including Battalion Chief for Special Operations Command and Deputy Chief.

“Chief Wallace has dedicated his entire career to serving Baltimore City residents, first as a firefighter and paramedic up until now, leading our Office of Emergency Management through an unprecedented public health crisis,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “The Baltimore City Fire Department does the hard work of saving lives across our city every single day, responding promptly to emergencies of all kinds and offering critical support to other agencies during challenging situations. I know that under Chief Wallace’s unmatched leadership and experience, our Fire Department will continue to excel in its mission and further enhance its services to the community.”

“It is an absolute honor to have the opportunity to serve as the Fire Chief for the Baltimore City Fire Department, having been with this department for more than 33 years,” said Chief James Wallace. “As our city continues to grow and evolve, I will work to uphold its esteemed reputation and excel in the department’s mission of having Pride Protecting People. I appreciate Mayor Scott for his leadership, trust, and support to provide exceptional emergency response services, fire prevention, and community education to our residents and visitors within our community.”

Over the course of his career, Chief Wallace has been recognized for his exceptional leadership and contributions to the fire service. He has been recognized for rendering life saving care for rendering care for two Baltimore City Police Officers and a Department of Public Works employee. Chief Wallace holds certifications in emergency management, safety officer training and management training from institutions like the National Fire Academy (NFA) and the Emergency Management Institute. 

His nomination will be introduced at the next regular meeting of the Baltimore City Council on August 21, 2023.