By: Laura Soukkavong
Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine will retire January 22, 2027, ending a nearly three-decade career in the fire service that included overseeing statewide emergency responses, firefighter training, fire investigations and major public safety initiatives.
Gov. Maura Healey and the Healey-Driscoll administration announced Davine’s retirement Friday, November 6. Davine, who became Massachusetts’ 19th state fire marshal on August 16, 2023, has led the Department of Fire Services through several significant emergencies and changes in firefighter safety and training.
His departure will leave a leadership vacancy at an agency responsible for nearly 1,000 full-time employees and contract personnel across three regional campuses.
“State Fire Marshal Davine’s leadership and collaboration have helped Massachusetts lead the way in firefighter health, safety, and training,” Healey said. “His calm and steady guidance have been invaluable to our crisis planning and response. I am deeply grateful for his service and wish him and his family the very best after so many years protecting public safety.”
Davine’s tenure included coordinating specialized emergency preparedness operations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Foxborough, overseeing state assistance during the historic 2024 brush fire season and supporting the investigation into the deadly Gabriel House fire in 2025.
During the 2024 brush fire emergency, the Department of Fire Services deployed personnel and resources on hundreds of missions to assist local and state agencies battling widespread fires across Massachusetts.
The department also assigned Massachusetts State Police fire investigators, code compliance officers and additional support personnel to the Gabriel House fire response and investigation.
Another major responsibility involved coordinating chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive preparedness and staffing for World Cup events in Foxborough, where international soccer matches brought additional emergency planning and security requirements.
Beyond emergency operations, Davine oversaw efforts to address emerging fire hazards, particularly the growing dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries.
In 2023, the Department of Fire Services hosted a symposium bringing together subject matter experts to examine lithium-ion battery fires and introduced new data collection efforts to improve understanding of those incidents.
The department also expanded access to free cancer screenings for firefighters, addressing occupational health concerns associated with repeated exposure to smoke, hazardous chemicals and other dangerous substances.
Training improvements included opening a new burn building in southeastern Massachusetts, providing firefighters with additional opportunities to practice responding to structural fires in controlled conditions.
Davine’s administration also consolidated two hazardous materials response districts to improve operational efficiency in western Massachusetts.
Under his leadership, Massachusetts joined the top 5% of states reporting fire data through the National Emergency Response Information System, an initiative intended to improve the collection and analysis of emergency response information.
Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina K. Kwon credited Davine with strengthening cooperation among public safety agencies and advancing statewide fire protection efforts.
“From major fires and emergencies to collecting and reporting the data that drives our fire safety strategies, State Fire Marshal Davine has been a trusted leader and a valued partner,” Kwon said. “His passion and commitment to fire protection at every level of government have helped make Massachusetts one of the most fire-safe states in the nation.”
Before his appointment as state fire marshal, Davine served as chief of the Northampton Fire Department.
His career included 25 years as a firefighter, hazardous materials technician and member of the Department of Fire Services’ Joint Hazard Incident Response Team.
Davine also made history as the first Massachusetts state fire marshal to have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, an institution that trains firefighters and emergency personnel from departments throughout the Commonwealth.
He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Reflecting on his career, Davine described leading the Department of Fire Services as his greatest professional achievement and praised the employees who carry out the agency’s responsibilities.
“Serving as State Fire Marshal and leading the Department of Fire Services has been my greatest professional honor and privilege,” Davine said. “I especially want to recognize the dedicated staff at DFS, who work tirelessly in support of our firefighters and our Commonwealth. They deliver the highest standards of training, operational support, and fire protection expertise every single day.”
The Massachusetts Fire Service Commission will be responsible for selecting Davine’s successor.
The eight-member commission, appointed by the governor, includes representatives of the fire service, insurance industry and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
Commission members are scheduled to meet November 9 to discuss the selection process, a proposed timeline and whether initial interviews should be conducted by the full commission or a preliminary screening committee.
Massachusetts established the nation’s first state fire marshal position in 1894, creating a statewide leadership role that has expanded considerably over more than a century.
Today, the Department of Fire Services operates through four divisions, supported by administrative offices and regional facilities that provide training, fire prevention expertise, hazardous materials response and investigative assistance to communities across Massachusetts.
Davine will remain in office until January 22, allowing time for the commission to begin the process of selecting the state’s next fire marshal.