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Jim Skinner: Dedicated Fire Chief
& ‘Just a Really Fun Guy to Have Around’
By Julie McCoy, contributing writer
JMembers of the Redwood City Fire Department administration join Chief Skinner in front of an old Redwood City engine.
im Skinner gets up at 4:15 a.m. and by 5 attended the City College of San Francisco’s fire
he’s doing yoga. By 7, the fire chief for the science program. In 1981, he was hired as a fire
Redwood City Fire Department is already inspector for the South County Fire Authority
at work, ready to tackle whatever may come in San Carlos, now the Belmont–San Carlos
his way. Skinner used to be out in the field Fire Department. He became a firefighter for the
fighting blazes, but now he assumes more of an Redwood City Fire Department in 1982 and then
administrative role. During the day, he interacts climbed the ladder within the department. He was
with staff and meets with department heads promoted to captain in 1990 and to battalion chief
(for example, the parks and recreation director, in 1998. He has held his current title as fire chief
city manager, finance director, human resource since September 2008. Skinner says he loves what
director and community services director) in he does so much that he doesn’t consider it work.
Redwood City and San Carlos. At night, he
attends community meetings (for example, City
Council meetings). It’s all part of the job for the
Fire Department veteran. “My job is to help other
people do their job, give them the tools, support
and guidance they need,” he said. “Every day
is the same, but every day is different. There is
never a dull moment.”
Following in his relatives’ footsteps
Skinner, who has been in the firefighting field
for 30 years, has always had a deep desire to
give back to his local community. His dad was
a policeman, but he couldn’t really envision
himself doing that. His uncle and his cousin were
both firemen, however, and by following in their
footsteps, Skinner found a great fit.
Climbing the ladder
Right after finishing high school, Skinner
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An educator, too
In addition to his role at the Redwood City Fire
Department, Skinner has taught in the City College
of San Francisco’s fire science department since
1994. Having come full circle, he currently teaches
in the same classroom in which he was a student
in the fire science program. He also teaches command,
management and prevention classes for California
State Fire Training and is an adjunct instructor for
the National Fire Academy.
Skinner holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science
with a major in fire administration from Cogswell
Polytechnic College in Sunnyvale and is a statecertified
chief officer.
A good sense of humor is key
Being in the firefighting profession isn’t easy, but
Skinner and others in his department maintain a
good sense of humor, which helps reduce stress.
“A good sense of humor helps us get through the
day here,” he said. “We do a lot of laughing. A
good sense of humor helps. It helps with the stress.”
Committed to the city and his department
Armando Muela, former fire chief for the Woodside
Fire Protection District, has known Skinner for
about 20 years. The two first met when Skinner
became an emergency medical technician and
Muela taught the EMT program in which Skinner
was enrolled. They also worked together for
about nine years when both were battalion chiefs.
The two worked on a number of fires together,
including the Main Street fire in 2002.
“He keeps the room very light and jovial but
he has a good balance on what he does,” Muela
said. “Jim has always been a champion of great
relationships and getting the job done. He is able to
analyze the situation and come up with solutions.”
Skinner has been very dedicated to not only
his department but Redwood City itself, Muela
stressed. “His dedication to the fire service
has never been unwavering,” he said. “Jim has
been a real avid champion of customer service.”
Skinner worked on a program to put in automatic
external defibrillators in public places and has
also coordinated and presented Public Safety Day
to participants in the Redwood City–San Mateo
County Chamber of Commerce’s leadership
program. He also has helped the Redwood City
Lions Club raise money.