Phoenix Appoints First Female Fire Chief

PHOENIX – City Manager Ed Zuercher today formally introduced Executive Assistant Chief Kara Kalkbrenner as the city’s new acting fire chief. She will take over management March 1 of the Phoenix Fire Department and its more than 2,000 employees from Fire Chief Bob Khan, who recently announced his retirement.

Kalkbrenner is a native Phoenician who began her career as a Phoenix firefighter in 1984 and since then has promoted through the ranks of fire engineer, fire captain, division chief, deputy chief, and into her current position of Executive Assistant Chief.

She has been involved in a wide variety of assignments throughout her career, such as managing the Dispatch Center, Fire Personnel and Public Affairs sections of the Fire Department. Additionally, Kalkbrenner had an active involvement in all areas of firefighting training.

As Executive Assistant Fire Chief of Administration, Kalkbrenner oversaw the administration/Physical Resources Division, which administers the Fire Department’s $300 million budget and acts as liaison to Phoenix City Hall and the Law Department. Also under her management was the Fire Emergency Transportation Services and the Resource Management, Facilities Management and Fleet Management sections of the department.

Kalkbrenner has an Associates of Arts degree in Fire Science from Phoenix College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fire Service Management from Ottawa University, and was an adjunct instructor for the Fire Service programs at Maricopa Community Colleges.