Chief Steve Akre Elected CFCA President-Elect
The Sonoma Valley Fire District proudly shares that our Fire Chief, Steve Akre, has been elected President-Elect of the California Fire Chiefs Association (CFCA) for the 2025–2026 term.
With over 37 years of dedicated fire service experience, Chief Akre brings a proven track record of leadership, collaboration, and forward-thinking innovation to this prestigious statewide role. His career began as a volunteer firefighter and has spanned every rank of service, culminating in his current position as Fire Chief of the Sonoma Valley Fire District.
Chief Akre’s leadership philosophy is rooted in building progressive, community-centered fire and EMS organizations. His 27 years of service in West Contra Costa County—including as Acting Fire Chief in Pinole—provided a strong operational and administrative foundation. He holds multiple California State Fire Marshal certifications and a Bachelor of Science degree from Sacramento State University.
Since 2017, Chief Akre has led transformational change in Sonoma County, first as Fire Chief of the Valley of the Moon Fire District and now as Chief of the consolidated Sonoma Valley Fire District. Under his leadership, the District has undergone two major consolidations and executed multiple service contracts that improved staffing, enhanced service delivery, and bolstered firefighter safety.
Chief Akre has served actively within Cal Chiefs for more than eight years, including over three years on the Executive Board as the Northern Division Director and as a member of the Legislative Task Force. His efforts have strengthened the fire service across California, championing initiatives that improve responsiveness, advance modern service delivery models, and support firefighter wellness and safety.
Beyond his work at the District and state levels, Chief Akre has served in key leadership roles, including:
- President, FASIS/FRMS, where he led a successful statewide consolidation to improve risk services and behavioral health benefits.
- President, Sonoma County Fire Districts Association, where he unified local agencies in support of shared goals and played a pivotal role in the success of Measure H.
- President, REDCOM, where he oversaw the in-sourcing of regional fire dispatch services for greater responsiveness and accountability.
- President, Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association, where he helped lead the development and voter passage of the $60 million Measure H sales tax for fire services in 2024.
Chief Akre shared:
“I am deeply honored to serve as President-Elect. I approach this opportunity with humility and a firm commitment to our shared mission—strengthening and advocating for the California fire service through leadership, unity, and collaboration. Our future success depends on courageous, relationship-based leadership and the ability to bring people together around a common vision.”
We extend our sincere congratulations to Chief Akre and look forward to the positive impact his leadership will continue to have—locally, regionally, and statewide.
→ Learn more about the California Fire Chiefs Association at https://www.calchiefs.org/