City of Long Beach Announces Retirement of Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach announced today the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan. Chief Buchanan has served as the Chief of the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) since February 2023, overseeing approximately 790 sworn and civilian staff that provide fire and emergency response services spanning five bureaus and nine divisions with an annual operating budget of approximately $200 million.

"Chief Buchanan has spent more than three decades serving Long Beach, and his leadership has left our Fire Department stronger, more prepared and more connected to the community it serves," said City Manager Tom Modica. "Chief Buchanan brought a clear focus on meeting the evolving needs of our community, all while maintaining a deep commitment to professionalism, accountability and genuine care for the men and women of our LBFD. His legacy will be felt for years to come, and we are deeply grateful for his service. I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement."

Prior to becoming Chief, Buchanan had served in many roles since joining LBFD in 1993, including Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief of Support Services, Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Paramedic and Firefighter. During his 18 years as Fire Captain, Buchanan spent eight years in the Port of Long Beach as a Hazardous Materials (HazMat) program specialist and three years educating Recruits in the Fire Academy. He became the City's first Black/Latinx Fire Chief when appointed in 2023.

As Fire Chief, Buchanan strengthened LBFD's ability to meet the evolving needs of the department and community. He addressed ambulance shortages and delays by putting in place the Peak Load Paramedic Ambulance Unit, a service delivery model that reduced response times by increasing ambulance resources during the busiest hours of the day. Under his leadership, two new fire stations were opened at Fire Stations 20 and 9, and six fire stations received major renovations and modernization. Chief Buchanan also expanded LBFD's recruitment efforts, including enhancements to the Prospective Recruit Exercise Program, and built partnerships with local educational institutions to create clearer pathways into firefighting careers. These efforts led to the largest Fire Academy in LBFD history, with 50 fire recruits in 2025.

Chief Buchanan also made the health and well-being of LBFD personnel a priority. During his tenure, the Department added new equipment, contracted with health clinicians and updated its physical wellness program to better support the physical and mental health of the people who serve Long Beach. To strengthen the Department's focus on accountability, professionalism and consistent standards of conduct, Chief Buchanan also established the LBFD Professional Standards Division.

"I am incredibly proud of the men and women of this Department, whose dedication, professionalism and courage make a difference in our community every day," said Fire Chief Buchanan. "The accomplishments achieved during my time as Fire Chief are a reflection of their hard work, the support of our City partners and our shared commitment to protecting the people of Long Beach."

Chief Buchanan is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Education. He recently served as the President of the Friends of Long Beach Firefighters, a local non-profit organization that supports community-based initiatives for the fire service.

Chief Buchanan is a Southern California native and former international professional soccer player. He has been married to his wife, Laura, for over 30 years, and together they have two adult children. During his retirement, Chief Buchanan plans to volunteer at national and state parks, participate in missionary work in Central and South America and take time to enjoy his hobbies of surfing, backpacking, gardening and international traveling.

His last day of service will be Dec. 11, 2026, when he will also celebrate the graduation of the 2026A Fire Academy.

The City Manager will conduct a national recruitment process that will allow for well-qualified candidates both internally and externally, with an announcement of the next Fire Chief expected in early 2027.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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