Michael McShane named fire chief for Dover

DOVER –  When Michael McShane joined the Dover Fire Department 17 years ago, he was given sage advice by Fire Chief Perry Plummer. 

“When Chief Plummer hired me, he said, ‘Our mission here is to do whatever we can for the citizens and if it's something that we can't do, we line up resources for them.’ To this day that has resonated and stuck with me,” McShane said. 

The advice became the foundation of his career with the department, having served in nearly every job in the department as he moved up the ranks. Now, he can add Fire Chief to the list. 

McShane took the reins as interim fire chief following the retirement of Paul Haas in January. He’s been selected as Dover's new Chief of Dover Fire and Rescue and will also serve as the City of Dover’s Emergency Management Director.

“What attracted me to Dover was the department's reputation,” McShane  said. “When I got here, I found out why it was regarded as highly as it was. I am equally committed to professional excellence, and it is something that I'm passionate about. And this department exemplified that, not just by saying it, but by doing it.”

McShane is no stranger to Dover Fire and Rescue

Chief McShane has 31 years of fire and emergency medical service experience, including 17 years with Dover Fire and Rescue. Since joining Dover Fire and Rescue as a firefighter/EMT in 2005, he has advanced in rank and responsibility, serving in various roles that have included firefighter/paramedic, engineer, lieutenant/company officer, captain/EMS officer, Assistant Fire Chief, and most recently Deputy Fire Chief.

“It's truly always been a passion to provide a public service to the community,” McShane said. “I enjoyed being a paramedic as a firefighter, and look forward to this new role. My main goal is to make sure the men and women in the department have all the resources and education they need to fulfill their duties." 

McShane said that whether it's fighting fires, providing medical care or coordinating disaster response, the thing he enjoys most about his job is the difference he can make in the community. 

“The experience I’ve gained in all these positions certainly has been exceptionally valuable because I've learned so much and seen it all from the inside,” McShane said. “I remember when I was a paramedic, I had two patients that we assisted over and over to the point where I remembered their medical history. One of those patients couldn’t see, and she always knew who I was just by the sound of my voice. Forming that kind of connection with who we serve that is the foundation of what we do here.”

The job is to help

McShane has seen a lot of change in the fire service over the course of his career, as departments become more than just firefighters, involved in multiple areas of public safety. He said it’s not just about the department’s response to calls, it’s about working to better meet the needs of the community. He hopes to take a deep dive into a community risk assessment to better understand what the needs of Dover are, what gaps may exist, and how the department can improve service. 

“Regardless of what the citizens ask or need of us, it’s our job to make sure we’re capable of helping,” McShane said. “COVID-19 is a great example of the fire service (being more than just) responding to calls. A lot of the COVID-19 we started out as a response, but then we tried to get ahead of it with vaccinations and boosters and stuff to help mitigate that.”

City Manager Michael Joyal congratulated McShane on this promotion.

"Throughout his career, he has been committed to advancing the excellent reputation and level of services provided by the members of our community’s Fire and Rescue Department,"  Joyal said. 

Dover Mayor Bob Carrier said that McShane is a good choice for the job.

“McShane is well respected and he's done a lot for the fire department,” Carrier said. “He put the 9/11 ceremony together last year, and he’s very  dedicated to his job and to the city.”