Spokane assistant fire chief briefly named finalist for top job in Omaha

Spokane Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer was briefly named one of four finalists to be the next fire chief in Omaha, Nebraska, Wednesday before withdrawing his name from consideration.

Schaeffer said he applied for the position early this year while the city was immersed in turmoil of the firing of former police chief Frank Straub. “It was much different times,” he said. “I honestly totally forgot about it.”

But now Schaeffer said he has no interest in leaving Spokane and withdrew his name from consideration Wednesday as soon as he learned he had been named a finalist.

“I’m certainly not looking to leave,” he said. “I’m very comfortable here.”