Career Staff

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Career Staff

Christiana hired its first two full-time Firefighter/EMTs in 1994 to offset daily Fire/EMS staffing. Over the past 30 years we have gradually increased our career staff to 35 full-time employees.

In 2004 Christiana Career Staff started the first I.A.F.F. Union Local in Delaware for combination department firefighters, which has grown to over 150 members throughout New Castle County, also followed suite in Kent and Sussex Counties with their own locals.

CFC was the first combination department in the state to promote career employees into the officer ranks in 2012 with our first Career Assistant Chief, followed by our first Career Lieutenants in 2015.

Our career staff work seamlessly alongside of our volunteer officers and members to ensure we have a minimum of 1 Duty Chief, 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, and 3 BLS units staffed 24/7, 365.

Christiana strives to be the example of a successful combination system for our state and nation.

We currently employ:

1 Career Assistant Chief, 3 Captains, 1 Lieutenant, 16 Firefighters, 12 EMTs, a full-time administrator and a full-time mechanic. CFC also employs over 30 part time EMTs for BLS staffing.

Our Career Fire/EMS work a 4 Platoon rotation of 24hrs on and 72 hrs off. Each shift has 1 Capt./Lt. (Shift Commander), with 4 Firefighter/EMTs & 3 BLS EMTs.

Keith Simpkins

Currently serving the Christiana Fire Company as President, Keith joined the CFC in 2003. As the President Keith is charged with the responsibility of managing the Company’s administration. Keith has held several roles within the Christiana Fire Company including Engine Captain, Director, and Vice-President and remains affiliated with the Pennsville Fire & Rescue Co.1 (Pennsville, NJ) where he is a life member and a former Chief of Department. Professionally, Keith spent 31 years in 9-1-1 Communications in Salem County (NJ) and Chester County (PA) where he finished his career there as the Deputy Director for 9-1-1 Communications. Keith currently serves as a business partner in two Delaware small businesses that specialize in fire protection and related services; Bear Emergency Planning Associates and Preferred Administrative Partners. Keith lives in Bear with his wife Chrissy and daughter Elizabeth.