Roseville Fire Chief Marcus Reed’s first week on the job was full of new faces, moving to a new city and getting to know a new department.

Reed, 53, started his role as Roseville’s newest fire chief Feb. 6.

Within his first eight days on the job, he has been “learning about the organization … understanding the nuts and bolts, getting to know people and seeing how things operate,” he said.

His first priority: Gain trust with people.

“I’m the outsider, the new guy,” Reed said.

Reed’s experience

Despite being the new guy in Roseville, he’s no stranger to holding a leadership role in fire service. He comes to Roseville from the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue District in Oregon, where he most recently served as division chief.

His fire service career began in the early 80s after he graduated from college. He attended Linfield College, outside of Portland, where he studied to become an English teacher. He also played baseball there. He also worked as a volunteer firefighter and attended night school to become EMT certified. When Reed graduated college, teaching positions were hard to come by, so he went the firefighting route, he said.

His career began with the City of Albany in Oregon for four and a half years. From there he moved to the City of Beaverton near Portland for 10 years. In 1996, the department merged and became the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue District, which serves approximately 440,000 residents, includes nine cities and unincorporated areas and covers 210 square miles in Oregon.

Department goals

Reed is coming into a role in the Roseville Fire Department that has lacked stability. Wynn Latta has served as interim fire chief since July 2011. Latta took over for Dean Grundy who also served as an interim fire chief for about seven months.

Reed said one of his goals is to revitalize the department and create stable leadership.

“The first several months are really going to be about taking a look at the organization and seeing what we are doing really well and then asking the question, ‘Why? Why is that successful?’” he said.

Initially, it’s all about “keeping the train on track,” Reed said.

A large focus long-term will be on looking at department data like response times and data trends and using that data to look at things like efficiency and where fire stations are located.

“It’s (the Roseville Fire Department) an organization that I think is really ready to take off,” Reed said.

Reed also hopes to work harmoniously with the City of Roseville, as well as nearby cities.

“We want to be good neighbors —work and play well with others,” he said.

Reed has a starting salary of $172,605, according to the City of Roseville.

When he’s not working …

As an English major, Reed said he likes to write when he’s off-duty, as well as play golf and garden.

Reed’s wife, Sara, is an instructional coach within North Clackamas School District in Oregon. She grew up north of Nevada City and has family in the area.

Sara and their three children have yet to make the move to California, but hope to move in April. The Reed family plans to buy a home in Granite Bay.

Follow us on Facebook for more Roseville news.