VIDEO: As we reflect on Black History Month, FOX 12 wants to highlight a local changemaker. Gresham’s new fire chief is making history for the city, becoming the city’s first Black chief in department history.
“Being the first of anything can come with its difficulties and challenges, you shouldn’t be the first of anything in 2026 by this time and age, but it is,” said Chief Jeff Hairston.
This isn’t the first time Hairston has made history at Gresham Fire. He was also the city’s first Black firefighter when he started 20 years ago. “If you never see anybody like you, you don’t think you’re capable of doing it, or you don’t think they want you, and that’s a no-no, that’s something that needs to change,” said Hairston.
Before becoming a firefighter, Hairston was a professional baseball player, then a teacher in Gresham until he was eventually recruited to Gresham Fire.
“I went through the whole process, I did a ride-along, and was like this is exactly what I want to do,” said Hairston. But every path isn’t easy, and Hairston said his road to chief took determination through adversity.
