Assistant Chief of Professional Services, Jamie Helms
Chief Helms has been a member of the Columbia Fire Department for over 28 years and has served as an officer for 20 of those 28 years. His job experience with the Department ranges from the position of Firefighter to Assistant Chief. He is currently the Assistant Chief of Professional Services which encompasses the areas of staffing, volunteer services, recruitment, hiring, promotional processes, disciplinary actions, and all other human resource functions of the Department. He is charged with oversight in the areas of the CFD Rank Academies, Policy Development Group, and the CFD One-Percent Committee. Chief Helms is a former member of the International Association of Firefighters, and a current member of the South Carolina State Firefighter’s Association, and the South Carolina Fire Chief’s Association. He has experience serving as the Incident Commander of many large scale incidents, including “The Thousand Year Flood”, Hurricane Hermine and Hurricane Matthew.Â
Chief Helms is a firm believer in servant leadership, advocating for service to both the community and to those you work with. He also advocates for the development of personnel through training, education, coaching and mentoring of others throughout all ranks. Chief Helms encourages personnel to be professional, disciplined, and strive for unity within the Columbia Fire Department family under the premise of “pride in the patch”.