Oklahoma City Names First Black Fire Chief | Oklahoma City News

Oklahoma City just made history by naming Derrick Kiel as its first Black fire chief — a milestone after 27 years of service with the department. Set to take over from retiring Chief Richard Kelley on October 1, 2026, Kiel brings deep operational experience as deputy chief of Support Services and Logistics. With a $225 million budget and 1,100+ employees, he’ll lead everything from emergency response to fire prevention. City leaders praise his hands-on expertise and commitment to safety, while Kiel vows to honor the department’s legacy while building a stronger, more unified culture for residents and first responders. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1a9fbc86aae2b904