STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-September 10, 2020-Interim Fire Chief Chuck Cerasoli has been appointed as the new full-time Fire Chief for Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue after a nationwide search by the city. Cerasoli has served as the acting interim Fire Chief for the past year.
“I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Chuck as the city’s next Fire Chief,” said City Manager Gary Suiter. “Through this intensive process Chuck emerged as the top candidate and the best person to lead the department forward.”
After an exhaustive and thorough national search, the applicant pool of over 50 candidates was narrowed to eight semi-finalists. An ultimate round of four finalists was put through an assessment center that evaluated personality traits, hypothetical scenarios, presentations, prioritization exercises, and management style.
Following the assessment center, the finalists were interviewed by four different panels (including a community panel), and the panelists gathered for a candid debriefing, which provided a strong, conclusive recommendation that Cerasoli was the best fit for the position.
“I’m honored to have been selected as the new chief and continue to serve this fantastic community that my family has called home for twenty years,” commented Cerasoli. “I look forward to working with the talented team across SSFR as we address the future direction for the department.”
Cerasoli joined Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue in 2000 as a firefighter/paramedic, a role he served for eight years. In 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant/Paramedic overseeing department training including the annual fire academy. This role expanded in 2012 into a new position as Training Captain, which he held for two years before being promoted to Deputy Fire Chief. As Deputy Chief, Cerasoli implemented numerous new departmental protocols and operations as well as expanded firefighting equipment and secured grants to meet the growing needs of the community.
In addition, Cerasoli serves on several councils including acting vice chair for both the Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council and Routt County EMS Council. He holds state and federal certifications as a paramedic as well as in training, wildland fires, incident command, hazardous materials, incident safety and arson investigation. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Appropriate Technologies with a minor in Environmental Studies from Western State University in Colorado.
SSFR serves the city and surrounding Steamboat Springs Area Fire Protection District, a 387-square-mile area with an estimated base population of 20,000 people with upwards of 35,000 people with visitors. SSFR provides Fire and EMS assistance when requested by other fire agencies in the county through mutual aid agreements.
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Contact
Gary Suiter, City Manager, 970.871.8204 or email
Chuck Cerasoli, Fire Chief, 970.879.7170 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220 or email