History of Blair's Fire Chiefs

History of Fire Chiefs for Blair Fire & Rescue

Blair Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department has been serving Blair and the surrounding communities since 1870. Below is the history of leaders for the departments, all of which have their photo hanging on the walls at both our North and South Station in commemoration of their leadership. 

Missing Dates: 1870 - 1908

Chief J.F. Burcham, Served as Fire Chief in 1908 and then from 1914 – 1917

Chief John McKay, Served as Fire Chief from 1909 - 1910

Chief Ed Mathiesen, Served as Fire Chief from 1911 – 1913 and 1918-1919

Chief K.A Peterson, Served as Fire Chief in 1920 

Chief Chris L. Winthers, Served as Fire Chief in 1921

Chief H. Schumacher,  Served as Fire Chief in 1922

Chief H.L. Morris, Served as Fire Chief from 1923 – 1925

Chief C.E Krause, Served as Fire Chief from 1926 – 1927

Chief Reed O’Hanlon, Served as Fire Chief from 1928 – 1929

Chief Orval Scheffler, Served as Fire Chief from 1930 – 1932

Chief John Hansen, Served as Fire Chief from 1933 – 1934 and 1937 – 1947

Chief Carl Pieper, Served as Fire Chief from 1935 – 1936

Chief Gordon Vinton, Served as Fire Chief from 1948 – 1954

Chief Tom Wilson, Served as Fire Chief from 1955 – 1957

Chief W.H. Anders, Served as Fire Chief from 1958 – 1967

Chief Marvin Stier, Served as Fire Chief from 1968 – 1969

Chief Don Kuhr, Served as Fire Chief from 1970 – 1984 – Tied for longest serving Fire Chief in BVFD History with Chief James "Jimmy" Olsen

Chief Steve “Dinger” Rounds, Served as Fire Chief from 1985 – 1988

Chief James “Jimmy” Olsen, Served as Fire Chief from 1989 – 2003 – Tied for longest serving Fire Chief in BVFD History with Chief Don Kuhr

Chief Lonnie Penry, Served as Fire Chief in 2003

Chief Lucus “Luke” Jones, Served as Fire Chief from 2004 – 2006 and 2009 – 2010

Chief Dave Aten, Served as Fire Chief from 2007 – 2008, 2011 – 2012, and 2021-2022, 2026 – Present Day

Chief Kent Nicholson, Served as Fire Chief from 2013 – 2015

Chief Heath Reyzlik, Served as Fire Chief from 2016 – 2017

Chief Joe Leonard, Served as Fire Chief from 2018 – 2020 and 2023 – 2025