Chris Arnold- A feature on SCN Fire Chief

Chris Arnold, Public Safety Director for the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, grew up between Wyandotte and Miami, Oklahoma. His grandfather, Elmer Peacock, was a full-blood member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Early on in his career, Arnold made an intentional choice to work for the Nation, because he wanted to make a positive contribution to his local community whether big or small. HIs aim was to show up in a meaningful way and apply his skills for the Nation community he cares deeply about. He explains “sitting silently and not doing what I am capable of to make our community better wasn’t something I was okay with.” In 2007, Chris began full-time work for the Nation. His 9 years of tenured skill in Emergency Management were a compliment to the Nation’s newly growing fire department.

 “The last 13 years I’ve watched it become what it is today.  When I first came on, the department was strictly a Wildland Fire agency contracted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs but had made plans to expand to become Seneca-Cayuga Nation Department of Public Safety, specializing in Emergency Management, EMS, and Fire.”

The working principles that Chris lives by haven’t changed much over the last 13 years as Fire Chief. His personal commitments and expectation from the emergency response team when responding to any call is:

1) Leave all politics at the gate.

2) Respond to every person like it’s your parents.

3) Always do what is right.

Arnold shared his heart behind this: “To me, all the people we respond to are my extended family, it makes no difference who you are, what your name is, or who you are related to. I don’t want any member of our community to suffer. I am here to support people in their time of need, and I do everything I can to remove the problem they are experiencing.”.

Listening to Chris Arnold, his genuine care for others shines through and seems to come naturally to him.  It also makes him a great fit for his position. Chris always looks for the good in every situation and seeks to find common ground with the people his department services.    When asked his thoughts on what he thinks the nation needs most in this time he shared the following:  “As a member I would like to see the Nation come together as a whole and put all the disagreements behind us and move forward to make a better life for the generations to come.” 

Arnold’s life principle is believing in a greater future for Seneca-Cayuga Nation, and recognizing that each member has a role to play. Choosing not to treat someone based on how they treat you, but upon what is right. It is this mentality, he believes, can create hope for every member of the Nation.