Palmer Fire and Rescue Chief John Prevost will be stepping down from his position this week after 28 years with the department. He began his fire service work as a Fire Department Explorer while in high school.
He started his career with the City of Palmer in the Public Works Department. He became a paid on-call fire department member. Prevost was promoted to Assistant Chief and accepted a full-time position with Palmer Fire & Rescue as the Training Coordinator in 2021. He was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief in 2023. Prevost was promoted to Fire Chief of Palmer Fire & Rescue last August after serving as Interim Chief for about 8 months.
He gave his final interview as Fire Chief on Big Cabbage Radio last Friday.
Prevost talked about the landfill fire that sent a large plume of black smoke across the Mat-Su Valley last Monday. He noted that the fire occurred in the construction and demolition pit. It required a regional response. The fire had grown to approximately 150 by 150 feet by the time firefighters arrived.
Palmer crews supplied personnel and water tenders. Neighboring departments assisted with water shuttle operations throughout the night.
Prevost emphasized that no official cause of the fire has been determined. He declined to speculate on the cause. Many have guessed that a lithium-ion battery may have been responsible.
Prevost explained that fires at the landfill occur about once a year and that this was one of the largest. He reminded residents to dispose of hazardous materials in the hazardous waste collection area. This includes lithium batteries. Never put them in the construction debris pit.
The discussion turned to fire safety. Chief Prevost explained the purpose of Knox Boxes. These secure key boxes are mounted outside many commercial buildings. They allow firefighters quick access during emergencies without forcing entry.
He also described how monitored fire alarm systems work. Signals go to central monitoring companies before local dispatch is notified. These systems don’t just send alerts due to fires. They also alert responders to sprinkler malfunctions that could cause flooding.
Chief Prevost then corrected a misconception about sprinklers. In most sprinkler systems, only the individual sprinkler head exposed to heat is activated, rather than every sprinkler in the building. Only specialized deluge systems are designed to release water from all heads simultaneously.
Chief also urged everyone to remain vigilant about wildfire danger. Although recent rains have helped, grasses and other light vegetation dry quickly. This leaves favorable conditions for fast-moving wildland fires. He pointed to a recent fire near the new visitor center as a reminder that caution remains necessary.
He also covered everyday fire safety. Chief advised residents to transport gasoline and propane outside the passenger compartment of vehicles whenever possible to reduce the risks associated with leaks, fumes, and collisions.
He also encouraged homeowners who heat with wood to have chimneys cleaned and inspected annually. Creosote can build up and ignite. This creates dangerous chimney fires that can spread into walls or attics if hidden structural problems exist.
Chief reflected on his career at the close of the interview. He admitted he never truly wanted to become fire chief. He expressed deep pride in the department and gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community. While stepping down from leadership, he hopes to remain involved as an on-call firefighter.
Thank you, Chief Prevost, for your dedication, years of service, professionalism, and good humor. We wish you the very best in the next chapter of your life.
You can listen to the full interview on bigcabbageradio.org in Inside the City under Podcasts.
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This Page Two article was summarized from last week’s episode of Inside the City by Mike Chielewski and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday June 29, 2026.
Image credit: palmerak.org