Los Alamos Schedules Public Meet-and-Greet for New Fire Chief

Los Alamos County is inviting residents to meet Erik Litzenberg, the county’s incoming fire chief, at Fuller Lodge (2132 Central Ave.) on January 7. Litzenberg’s appointment was affirmed by the County Council on December 16, 2025, and he is set to begin with the Los Alamos Fire Department the week of January 5, 2026. His start will overlap with retiring Chief Wendy Servey to provide an on-the-ground transition.

County materials published January 2, 2026, outline Litzenberg’s more than 28 years in public safety and leadership. His resume includes service as a senior fire advisor with the International Association of Fire Chiefs and prior roles with Santa Fe City and County. The release notes advanced education including master’s degrees and doctoral studies, as well as paramedic and hazardous materials qualifications. Those credentials align with the department’s operational demands, given the community’s mix of residential areas, federal facilities, and national parkland.

The Los Alamos Fire Department is described as an all-hazards career department with roughly 177 staff and multiple stations serving Los Alamos County, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Bandelier National Monument. Leadership changes in such an organization carry practical implications for emergency preparedness, interagency coordination, training priorities, and resource allocation. Litzenberg’s national connections through the International Association of Fire Chiefs could factor into regional training opportunities and grant partnerships, while his hazmat and paramedic background speaks directly to the county’s on-site risks and medical response needs.

The planned overlap with Chief Servey is a key operational detail. A phased handoff can help preserve institutional knowledge, maintain response continuity during the winter season, and provide time to review department priorities such as mutual aid agreements, wildfire mitigation strategy, and emergency medical service capacity. The County Council’s role in affirming the appointment reflects the governance process for executive public safety positions, and council oversight will be central as Litzenberg implements any strategic changes.

Residents interested in departmental direction and emergency priorities have an immediate opportunity to engage. The meet-and-greet will run from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, at Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave. Attendance allows community members to observe leadership transition firsthand, raise questions about preparedness and services, and assess how the department plans to address local risks tied to the laboratory, surrounding public lands, and everyday emergency response. Moving forward, council discussions, budget reviews, and departmental reports will be the venues where community priorities and performance expectations are clarified and evaluated.