Mark Nordahl Appointed Fire Chief of Black River Falls Fire Department
The City of Black River Falls and the Rural Fire Board are pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Nordahl as the new Fire Chief for the Black River Falls Fire Department.
Following a comprehensive search process, the Fire Chief Hiring Committee received five applications for the position and interviewed three finalists. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Rural Fire Board and the Black River Falls Common Council approved extending a conditional offer of employment to Mark Nordahl, who has accepted the position pending a pre-employment physical and drug screen.
A lifelong resident of Black River Falls, Chief Nordahl brings more than 20 years of dedicated service to the department. He has been serving as 2nd Assistant Chief and is also a certified EMT-B. Throughout his tenure, he has provided leadership on emergency scenes, mentored new firefighters, participated in emergency management planning, and played a vital role in the department’s community outreach efforts, including organizing the department’s long-running annual car show.
Chief Nordahl holds numerous professional certifications, including Firefighter I and II, Advanced EMT (pending National Registry), and Fire Officer I. He has completed extensive training through FEMA and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as well as the full suite of Incident Command System (ICS) courses (100-800). His experience is complemented by a strong commitment to continuous improvement, compliance with safety standards, and collaborative leadership across municipal, county, and state agencies.
“Chief Nordahl’s experience and deep roots in the community will serve the department and our residents exceptionally well,” said City Administrator Brad Chown. “His dedication and professional development reflect the values we seek in our public safety leadership.”
The City of Black River Falls and the Rural Fire Board extend their congratulations to Chief Nordahl and express appreciation to all the candidates who participated in the hiring process.