Michael R. Tofano named new Fire Chief for the Lexington Fire Department

Interim Fire Chief Michael R. Tofano named the new Fire Chief for the Lexington Fire Department. Tofano has served as Interim Fire Chief since the retirement of former Chief Paul Jarrett on August 30, 2024.

“After an intense process involving many qualified applicants, I’m confident that Chief Tofano has the skills and ability to lead our exceptional fire department to higher heights. “His commitment to the fire service, and the community are an example of servant leadership”, stated City Manager Johnnie Taylor. The City underwent an extensive and comprehensive national recruitment process to evaluate potential candidates for the position.

Michael R. Tofano graduated from North Davidson High School in 1993 before moving to Altoona, Pennsylvania where he started his firefighting career in 1999. Tofano held the ranks of Firefighter, Driver, Captain, and Fire Inspector before being promoted as the Deputy Chief of Altoona Fire Department in 2012. In June 2021, he retired from the Altoona Fire Department and moved back to North Carolina after he was hired as the Deputy Chief of the Lexington Fire Department. He received an Executive Fire Officer certification through the National Fire Academy in 2019. Deputy Chief Tofano completed his Master of Public Administration in fire administration degree from Liberty University in 2022.

“It is an honor to accept the position of Fire Chief for the City of Lexington. I look forward to leading the Lexington Fire Department with integrity and dedication” said Tofano. “ I am committed to upholding the trust of our community, ensuring the safety Lexington’s citizens, and supporting the brave men and women of the Lexington Fire Department who put their lives on the line each day. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence in everything we do.”