Eric Bishop, the current deputy chief of the Westfield Fire Department, was recently appointed as the department’s new chief.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — Marking a new chapter in leadership for the Westfield Fire Department, Eric Bishop was appointed two weeks ago by the Fire Commission as the department’s incoming fire chief. He will replace current Chief Patrick Egloff when he retires in April.
“I’ll be honest with you, the desire to make a difference,” Bishop said when asked why he chose the fire service as a career. “And I found being a firefighter was the best way to do that.”
Bishop began his career with the department in 1999 as a firefighter/paramedic, delivering advanced life support and responding to a wide range of emergency incidents.
Promoted to captain in 2011, Bishop supervised daily operations and training while serving as president of Local 1111 Union, where he led collective bargaining efforts and strengthened labor-management collaboration.
After being promoted to deputy chief, Bishop expanded his leadership beyond emergency response and began directing community risk reduction initiatives, including the SAFE and Senior SAFE programs. He also chaired the Local Emergency Planning Committee, coordinating citywide emergency preparedness strategies.
In addition to his fire service experience, Bishop earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Public Administration from Anna Maria College. He is also credentialed as a chief fire officer through the Massachusetts Fire Academy and is a 2025 graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy — one of the nation’s premier leadership programs for senior fire officials.
These credentials, paired with Pro Board Fire Officer certifications and specialized training in fire investigation, hazardous materials response and technical rescue operations, position Bishop as both a tactically skilled and strategically minded leader.
While deputy chief, Bishop worked closely with municipal finance officials to align departmental budgets with operational priorities. He led grant-writing initiatives that secured funding for apparatus upgrades, safety equipment and training enhancements. During his time as EMS director, he modernized billing and rate structures, significantly improving revenue collection and operational efficiency.
Last year, a report commissioned by the city to take an in-depth look at the operations of the Fire Department suggested several areas where the department could improve, including hiring additional staff, specifically an assistant chief, and building a training facility.
Bishop said hiring an assistant chief or an assistant fire prevention officer is a priority, but like every city department, it comes down to funding, which includes building a training facility.
He said about 10% of the recommendations were implemented before the report was issued.
“We’re trying to attack another 10% or so to see how far we can make it,” he said, but many of the recommendations required “high resources.”
As for the training facility, Bishop said the department has been studying various options for building a facility.
In a prepared statement, Bishop highlighted the three areas that have prepared him for his new role: operational leadership, formal education and credentialing, and strategic administrative experience.
“I bring hands-on operational leadership, advanced academic and certification grounding, and administrative and strategic experience — all aligned to the demands of a fire chief role,” Bishop said. “I’m confident I’m ready to lead the department with integrity, efficiency and vision.”
He described his leadership approach as rooted in servant leadership, open communication and empowerment. He said he has also consistently prioritized training, professional development, and fostering a culture of safety and accountability within the department.
In addition to his departmental duties, Bishop has served as outreach coordinator for Special Olympics Polar Plunge and is an active member of the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association.
As chief, Bishop will now guide the department’s strategic direction, oversee personnel and resources and continue strengthening community partnerships.
City officials expressed confidence that his depth of experience and demonstrated commitment to excellence will ensure the department remains prepared to meet the evolving public safety needs of the community.
When Bishop was asked about what he considers his proudest achievement, it wasn’t what one might expect.
“Some of my proudest moments are those small moments of contact with a patient who just needs that reassurance that everything’s going to be OK,” he said.
