Fire Chief Jennifer Schmidt reflects on leadership, diversity, and community partnership at Lacey Fire District 3 — revealing how empathy, teamwork, and transparency fuel a culture of excellence and service.
In Leading with Heart: The Lacey Fire Story, Fire Chief Jennifer Schmidt offers an intimate look at the people and principles that define Lacey Fire District 3. From serving over 100,000 residents across 70 square miles to fostering a culture where women thrive in every rank, Chief Schmidt’s story is one of progress and purpose.
She shares insights into what makes the district unique — from its community-funded structure to its strong union collaboration and deep civic pride. With candor and humility, Schmidt discusses her path from firefighter to chief, emphasizing that great leadership means caring for people first.
Through her words, we see how “service with excellence” isn’t a destination but a mindset: always learning, improving, and connecting. The film celebrates the heart of a department where teamwork, diversity, and community are inseparable — and where the job, as Chief Schmidt says, “is never done.”
