Coeur d’Alene names John Fugitt as new fire chief, succession set

Coeur d’Alene’s fire department is headed into a careful handoff as Tom Greif retires after nearly 29 years and John Fugitt prepares to take over the top job, with Deputy Fire Chief Bill Deruyter stepping in to keep the department steady in between. The transition matters because the chief oversees emergency response, staffing and readiness for the calls that keep coming across Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County.

Greif’s retirement takes effect April 16, closing out a long run with the city’s fire department. Mayor Dan Gookin said Greif’s career reflected exceptional leadership, commitment and professionalism, and he thanked him for the lasting impact he leaves behind. For a department that relies on institutional knowledge as much as rank-and-file experience, the timing of the succession makes the changeover more than a routine personnel move.

Fugitt has accepted the position of fire chief and is expected to begin in May. He currently serves as deputy chief administrator and fire marshal for the Fullerton Fire Department in California and brings 25 years of experience to Coeur d’Alene. His background signals that the city was looking for a leader who can handle more than street-level operations, with responsibility for management, policy and oversight as well as day-to-day fire service decisions.

Deruyter will serve as interim fire chief beginning April 17, giving the department local leadership while the city completes the transfer from one chief to the next. That arrangement avoids a leadership gap at a time when continuity matters for response times, staffing stability and public confidence in the department. The city said the succession plan was intended to keep the department moving forward under temporary leadership until Fugitt arrives.

For residents, the immediate takeaway is that Coeur d’Alene’s fire department will not be left in limbo as a longtime chief departs. Greif’s exit closes one of the city’s most durable public-safety chapters, and Fugitt’s arrival will open a new one shaped by both emergency response and administrative oversight.