Cosumnes Fire Chief Hansen named Fire Chief of the Year

Elk Grove, Calif. – Cosumnes Fire Department Chief Tracey Hansen was named Fire Chief of the Year by the California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs). Chief Hansen received the award at the CalChiefs annual conference held in Sacramento, CA from October 26-28.

The award, named after retired State Fire Marshal Ronny Jack Coleman, recognizes Chief Hansen’s many contributions to the California fire service, including community involvement, leadership and management, training and education, fire prevention and public safety education, and the impact of these activities on fire and emergency medical services locally, regionally and statewide.

This award comes at the close of Chief Hansen’s elected term as the President of CalChiefs. She has previously been part of CalChief’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section and has acted as Legislative Director focusing on statewide issues affecting the delivery of fire and EMS.

Chief Hansen began her career in public service in 1993 and in the fire service when she first joined the then-Elk Grove Fire Department in 1996. She has held the positions of Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Deputy Chief prior to being named Fire Chief in June 2010. She has served as Chair for the Sacramento County Fire Chiefs Association and the Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center, and as a member of the California Fire Service Task Force on Climate Change.

In addition to being an active member of CalChiefs, Chief Hansen is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Firefighters, the International Association of Women in the Fire and Emergency Services, and the California Professional Firefighters. Chief Hansen is a management appointee to the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee

Board. She remains a dues paying member of Sacramento Area Firefighters, Local 522, where she previously held a seat as a District Director on the Executive Board for nearly four years.   She also participates in the League of California Cities Fire Chiefs Department and the League’s Public Safety Policy Committee.

“I am humbled by the recognition of my peers at the California Fire Chiefs Association as Fire Chief of the Year,” said Chief Hansen upon receiving the award.  “There are so many great people I have had the honor to work with at all levels of the Fire Service that I have learned from.  All fire chiefs know that they cannot be successful going it alone.  It takes a whole team.”

Chief Hansen continued, “I am also deeply thankful to my husband, daughters, and extended family for their support and sacrifice over the years.  I have missed countless holidays, birthdays, and other events as a result of choosing this profession.  They know that this profession is a calling and support me anyway.  For that I am eternally grateful.”

CalChiefs Executive Director Eric Dutton commented, “Chief/President Hansen was a pleasure to serve with.  Her dedication and commitment to CalChiefs was selfless and her personal approach and efforts helped bring CalChiefs to a new level of stature and respect.  She is so deserving of ‘Fire Chief of the Year.’ She has laid the groundwork for us to move forward as an organization.”

The Cosumnes Fire Department serves an estimated 183,000 south Sacramento County residents in a 157-square-mile area. It provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the cities of Elk Grove and Galt and unincorporated areas of south Sacramento County. The Department is committed to providing extraordinary service through prevention, preparedness, and emergency response to our community.