Chris Bates

Chris Bates has been named the new chief of the Cleveland Fire Department. Bates has been in emergency services since 1995 when he was hired by the city of Cleveland Police Department and has most recently served as fire marshal for the city. He has worked with the Cleveland Fire Department since 2001 and has held positions including firefighter/AEMT, engineer, company officer, shift training officer, and fire investigator. He holds an associate’s degree from Cleveland State Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, in addition to numerous certifications from the Tennessee Commission on Fire Fighting and others. He is also a member of the International Association of Fighters, International Association of Arson Investigators, and Tennessee Advisory Committee on Arson.