“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

-— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we honor the indelible impact of Dr. King’s work to advance civil rights, we acknowledge our own uneven journey toward racial and social equity.

Hired in 1959, Claude Harris was the city’s first Black firefighter and rose through the ranks to become the department’s first Black Fire Chief in 1985. Even as he faced discrimination and bias, his desire to serve Seattle courageously opened doors for others to follow, including our second Black Fire Chief, Gregory Dean. Today, under the leadership of Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, we continue our work toward a diverse, equitable and welcoming work place.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Rally & March

Join us Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 at Garfield High School for a rally and march in remembrance of Dr. King’s legacy. The rally will begin at 11 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium and the march to Downtown will start at 12:30 p.m..

The event is hosted by the Seattle MLK, Jr. Organizing Coalition and will feature a career and opportunity fair at 8:30 – 11 a.m. along with workshops starting at 9:30 a.m.. Click here for more info.

The Seattle Fire Department is not affiliated with the Seattle MLK, Jr. Organizing Coalition.