Chief Sam Thornton

Chief Thornton began his career in the fire service as a volunteer in December of 1995 with what is now known as the Highland Volunteer Fire Department. In February of 1998 Chief Thornton became a paid-on-call member with the City of Portland Fire Department. Chief Thornton became a full-time career firefighter with the city in September of 1998. Since beginning his career Chief Thornton has served as a Firefighter/Engineer until 2007, Captain from 2007 to 2015, Assistant Chief from 2015 – 2020 and became Chief of the Fire Department on September 14, 2020.

Chief Thornton is a 1996 graduate from Portland High School and has an AAS in Fire Science from Volunteer State Community College. He is a certified Fire Inspector and Emergency Medical Technician – Basic along with various other professional certifications. Chief Thornton has been an active member in the community by coaching multiple sport teams through the years and is an active member in the local church he worships at. He also enjoys bicycling in the surrounding area for exercise. He has been married to his wife Beth (a Portland High School math teacher) for over 25 years and both are enjoying their new titles of grandparents since the fall of 2019.

Assistant Chief Shaun Tyson

Fire Marshal

Asst. Chief Tyson has served in public safety since 2000, with experience in the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. In January 2021, he joined the Portland Fire Department as the city’s first Sworn Fire Marshal. In this role, he oversees fire investigations, fire safety inspections, plans review, fire safety education, and public information, and also serves as the city’s Safety Director.

Asst. Chief Tyson is an active member of the local community and the church he worships with, and he is a published children’s author. Prior to joining PFD, he worked as a lead fire investigator with Florida’s Bureau of Fire, Arson, & Explosives Investigations, assigned to the West Palm Beach Field Office. His responsibilities covered more than 7,500 square miles and a population exceeding 2.25 million. During his career, he has received multiple honors, including Fire Investigator of the Year and Arson Investigator of the Year for the State of Florida. He is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators.

Battalion Chief

Each shift is commanded by an assigned Battalion Chief who oversees the shift's staffing, training, and operations. 

• A Shift - Battalion Chief Derek Drilling

• B Shift - Battalion Chief Michael Fisher

• C Shift - Battalion Chief Jeremy Conner