Tahoe Douglas Fire District promotes Jim Antti

Jim Antti started off working as a firefighter/paramedic for Tahoe Doulgas Fire Protection District 24 years ago, and today he is their new assistant chief.

Antti was hired in June of 1992, promoted to captain in February, 2003, and to battalion chief in June, 2013.

Chief Antti has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science and a Fire Officer’s Certification from the California State Fire Marshal’s Office. He is a certified EMT II, hazardous materials technician/specialist, and hazardous device technician. He has also participated in courses on fire/post-blast investigation, high/low angle rescue, vehicle extrication, sub-surface water rescue, and ice rescue. Chief Antti was the first certified ice rescue technician for the department and has played a large role in the ice rescue program development and training of all other department personnel. He has served on the Health and Safety Committee, as a peer fitness trainer, as Bomb Squad Commander and as the Fire District’s Terrorism Liaison Officer.

As a battalion chief he was responsible for the purchase and maintenance of apparatus, vehicle and radio inventory; he has served as the liaison with Douglas County dispatch to maintain the communications systems. His new responsibilities include organizational training, operations and administration.

Throughout his career, Antti has developed and taught courses to the Fire District, neighboring jurisdictions, local businesses, schools, the U.S. Military, and other government agencies nationally and internationally. The course topics covered emergency medical services, explosive ordinance disposal, fire investigation, post-blast investigation, and hazardous materials. This has included teaching fire investigation at Lake Tahoe Community College, IED awareness for the U.S. Marine Corps, and post-blast investigation for the U.S. State Department overseas.

Chief Antti and his wife Susan have raised three girls and a son in Gardnerville and have one grandson.