The Interim Fire Chief came out of retirement to serve the community and lead the Fire Department in an exciting time of growth and change.
The City of San Luis Obispo has appointed trusted fire service leader Randy Harris as San Luis Obispo’s new Fire Chief, effective June 18, 2026.
Harris, who has been serving as the Fire Chief in an interim role since January, says he is excited to continue serving the community, building strong leadership from within the Fire Department team, and continuing to build strong relationships in the City organization.
“As Interim Fire Chief, I have experienced tremendous support of the City’s leadership team and the entire department,” Harris said. “There are several critical Fire Department needs that will require solid leadership over the coming years, which is why I offered to continue leading our Fire Department team.”
The City conducted a national recruitment earlier this year to fill the Fire Chief position left vacant late last year. While strong candidates were identified, none were ultimately appointed as Fire Chief.
“In a demonstration of true leadership, Randy graciously offered to come out of retirement to serve our community as the Fire Chief in the longer-term,” said City Manager Whitney McDonald. “We are so fortunate to have Randy on our team, and I know he will continue to serve the community well.”
Harris will manage the Fire Department‘s $18 million budget and lead a team of about 60 full-time Fire Department employees serving the San Luis Obispo community. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department is a full-service fire department that protects lives and property through emergency response, fire prevention, disaster preparedness, and community education. The City is preparing to build and open Fire Station 5 in the coming years, and planning for that will require stability in Fire Department leadership as well as additional staffing.
Harris started his career in the fire service at the San Luis Obispo County Airport Fire Station 21 in 1990 and later became a paramedic before working for the City of Paso Robles Fire Department. He recently retired from the City of Paso Robles as the Deputy Fire Chief, after 28 years of service. During his tenure there, he served in all ranks. He brings extensive command experience and deep knowledge of fire service operations in San Luis Obispo County.
He and his wife live in Paso Robles with their two golden retrievers. They raised two kids who also live and work on the Central Coast. When he’s not serving the community, you can find him outdoors hiking, biking, and sailing.
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