Sioux Falls Fire Rescue announces new chief

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue announced its new leader. 

Matthew McAreavey will be the next fire chief, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken announced Friday. 

He will take the title after Brad Goodroad retires in February. Goodroad had been fire chief since 2017 and has been with the department for 27 years.

McAreavey has been with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue since 2002. He served as a firefighter until he was promoted to fire apparatus operator in 2008. He continued to rise through the ranks, being named a fire captain in 2009 and a battalion chief in 2014. 

As a battalion chief, McAreavey coordinated staffing, training and emergency response of Sioux Falls' 12 fire stations, as well as the health and safety programs and mental health initiatives for the department. 

TenHaken said McAreavey was an "ideal fit" as the next fire chief. 

“Under his leadership, I look forward to seeing our nationally recognized Sioux Falls Fire Rescue team continue to excel in providing excellent service to our community," TenHaken said in a statement. 

McAreavey said he enjoys solving problems and collaborating with people, and he's looking forward to fostering employee morale. 

"We have an amazingly talented pool of public servants, and my role in this position will be to share a vision and support our Sioux Falls Fire Rescue team in continuing to provide excellent service to the community,” he said in a statement. 

The Sioux Falls City Council will need to approve McAreavey's appointment. It will be presented at the Feb. 2 meeting. 

Email reporter Danielle Ferguson at dbferguson@argusleader.com or follow on Twitter at @DaniFergs.