City Manager Jay Burney has appointed Hillory Flowers as Chief of the Olympia Fire Department. Flowers, who has served as Interim Fire Chief since March, is the first woman to serve as Fire Chief in the department's history.
Flowers was introduced as the City's new Fire Chief during the Olympia City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11.
"During her time as Interim Fire Chief, Hillory has exhibited outstanding leadership in the department, as part of our Executive Team and in the community," Burney said. "She is a proven leader and relationship builder who is well respected and supported by the fire community locally and regionally. I am honored and thankful that she has accepted this role."
Flowers brings nearly 20 years of fire and emergency medical service experience to the position. She joined the Olympia Fire Department on April 21, 2025, as Assistant Chief of EMS and was promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations in November 2025. She has served as Interim Fire Chief since March following the retirement of Chief Matt Morris.
"I'm deeply humbled by the opportunity to lead and serve such an incredible group of people," Flowers said. "OFD is the oldest organized fire department in the state of Washington, and with that history comes a tremendous responsibility to honor our rich legacy. To me, leading OFD means respecting where we've come from while preparing the department for the future. We must preserve the traditions and values that have made OFD great while ensuring we have the people, training and resources necessary to respond rapidly and effectively when our community needs us most."
Since joining Olympia, Flowers has focused on streamlining operations, organizational readiness and resilience, staffing and recruitment, and long-term planning. She has also been involved in the department's Standards of Cover work, which evaluates community risks, deployment needs and the resources necessary to meet current and future demands.
Before joining Olympia, Flowers spent more than 18 years with Lacey Fire District 3, beginning as a firefighter/paramedic in 2006. She later served as lieutenant/paramedic and Assistant Chief of Health & Safety.
Throughout her career, Flowers has focused on developing people and strengthening the health and safety of first responders. At Lacey Fire District 3, she helped implement an EMT course as part of the South Sound Recruit Academy, allowing the agency to expand its approach to recruiting and hiring new firefighters.
Flowers also helped develop firefighter peer support locally and statewide. She helped grow the Thurston County Peer Support Consortium into a countywide program serving 13 fire departments and worked with both the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and Washington Fire Chiefs Association on statewide behavioral health and peer support efforts.
Developing the next generation of Olympia firefighters will be among Flowers' priorities as chief. About 40% of OFD firefighters have less than three years of experience.
"Our priority must be developing that next generation of firefighters through strong training, mentorship and meaningful experience," Flowers said. "I want every firefighter to have the confidence, knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively and take care of our community. Under my leadership, we will build on our strong foundation, invest in our people and ensure OFD is prepared to meet the demands of the future."
Flowers holds a bachelor's degree in Paramedicine from Central Washington University and a master's degree in Public Safety Leadership and Administration, with an emphasis in Executive Fire Service, from Arizona State University.
Outside of work, Flowers enjoys skiing, traveling, boating and gardening with her husband, Troy, and their children, Addison and Cadon.
The City will host a ceremony to honor and celebrate Flowers' promotion at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Olympia Fire Station 1, 100 Eastside St. NE. The community is invited to attend.
