James Cleveland, new Fire Chief, has arrived

POMEROY––New Fire Chief James Cleveland started his new position the week of August 31, 2020, following a lengthy process of long-distance interviews, an in-person visit to Pomeroy, and a moving trip across the country with his family of 10, all due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite taking all precautions, GCFD full-time personnel have been out of the office for a week due to illness. Cleveland disclosed to the East Washingtonian that he tested positive for COVID-19, and has been recovering at home.

The two full-time employees of the GCFD, who were working in the office with Cleveland, have also been quarantined. District Secretary Deedee Weymouth announced they should be back in the office again as of September 15. Cleveland will return to the office when he is released by the Health District.

The Clevelands are getting settled in their new home.

Cleveland was born in San Leandro, Calif., and grew up in Lake County, Calif., in the walnut and pear orchards there. This area is also one of California's heavy fire areas, which helped fuel his desire to become a firefighter. He began his career at the young age of 15 when he joined a junior program with the local fire department, which he continued throughout high school. At 17 he was hired as a seasonal firefighter by the Kelseyville Fire District, and held this position from 1987 to 1990. From 1999 to 2005, Cleveland worked for the Nice Fire District in Lake County, Calif.

In 2005, Cleveland moved to north Idaho and became the Fire Chief for the Pritchard-Murray Volunteer Fire District from 2005 to 2014. Then he spent three years in New Mexico at Carlsbad, in Eddy County, which included 11 different fire districts. As the Deputy Director of Fire Services, he oversaw all eleven fire districts, and served as the Emergency Manager for the county. In 2017, he took another trip across the country to take on the position of Fire Chief for the Ashburnham, Mass., fire department, where he was also serving as the Emergency Management Director. This was the position he held until the GCFD hired him to be their new fire chief.

Cleveland is a certified paramedic, receiving his vocation certificate from Mendicino College, in California. He also received his Fire Officer Certification from American River College in North Highlands, Calif., just outside of Sacramento. He started his Bachelor's degree at Idaho State College, and finished it with Waldorf University.

James and his wife, Mariann, were married in 1998, and have four children. The oldest son, Devin, 25, is married and has three children of his own. He and his wife have moved here with the family as well, and plan to make their home in Lewiston. The remaining three children are with James and Mariann, and include son Elliot, 21, daughter Megan, 20, and son William, 16. After living in Murray, Id., for ten years, the whole family was ready to move back to this part of the country.

The Clevelands are looking forward to small-town living here in Pomeroy, and love the proximity to the mountains and river. James likes to spend time hiking in the woods, and exploring. He says they want to become part of the community, and plan to retire here. They truly feel that Pomeroy will be a good fit for them.