Madison Fire Department Chiefs
Chiefs from the volunteer era were originally elected by popular vote of the firefighters to serve for a one year term (beginning and ending in March). In 1871, the Common Council assumed the responsibility of appointing Chiefs annually with chiefs commonly serving more than one term. The Board of Police and Fire Commissioners was established in 1897 and have since that time appointed the Department's chiefs. Under the boards authority, chiefs may not be removed from office without just cause.
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1857 - 1858 | John M. Griffin |
| 1858 - 1859 | E.B. Chadwick |
| 1859 - 1860 | William Genett |
| 1860 - 1861 | D. M. Burwell |
| 1861 - 1863 | Charles Billings |
| 1863 - 1864 | G. B. McGie |
| 1864 - 1865 | T. G. Tibbits |
| 1865 - 1866 | William H. Holt |
| 1866 - 1867 | Martin Hinrichs |
| 1867 | James E. Fisher (Fisher resigned just weeks after being elected.) |
| 1867 - 1868 | William T. Fish |
| 1868 - 1869 | W. N. Moulton |
| 1869 - 1870 | A. R. Jones |
| 1870 - 1871 | William Farrell |
| 1871 - 1877 | H. A. Dyke |
| 1877 - 1880 | Martin Hinrichs |
| 1880 - 1881 | W. A. Bradley (Bradley died in June of 1881 while serving a second term.) |
| 1881 - 1882 | Edward Quammen |
| 1882 - 1884 | William Vallender |
| 1884 - 1890 | William H. Hughes |
| 1890 - 1907 | Charles Bernard |
| 1907 - 1929 | Charles W. Heyl |
| 1929 - 1939 | John Lahm |
| 1939 - 1944 | Richard Widmann |
| 1944 - 1963 | Edward J. Page |
| 1963 - 1974 | Ralph A. McGraw |
| 1974 - 1979 | Eldon E. Maginnis |
| 1979 - 1985 | Edward D. Durkin |
| 1985 - 1996 | Earle G. Roberts |
| 1996 - 2011 | Debra H. Amesqua |
| 2012 - 2022 | Steven Davis |
| 2022 - Present | Chris Carbon |