Reno and Sparks Appoint Shared Fire Chief to Lead Departments

The city councils of Reno and Sparks have unanimously approved an interlocal agreement establishing a shared leadership model for their fire departments. Under the deal, Dave Cochran, the Reno Fire Chief, will assume operational management of the Sparks Fire Department on August 3, 2026.

While the two agencies will remain separate entities with independent budgets and personnel, they will operate under Cochran's executive oversight to reduce overhead and coordinate dispatch and regional assets. The City of Sparks will reimburse Reno for 25% of the fire chief's salary, benefits, and shared administrative costs. This transition was made possible by a vacancy in the Sparks fire chief position.

City leaders emphasized that the partnership focuses on deploying the closest available resources to emergencies regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. A primary immediate outcome of the agreement is the scheduled reopening of Sparks Fire Station 6 on August 5, 2026. Mayors Hillary Schieve and Ed Lawson characterized the move as a way to achieve greater efficiency in dispatch and mechanics while enhancing public safety for both communities.