Christiana Fire Company, Inc
MATTHEW READ
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About Christiana Career Staff
Christiana hired its first two full-time Firefighter/EMTs in 1994 to offset daily Fire/EMS staffing. Over the past 30 years, we have gradually increased our career staff to 36 full-time employees.
In 2004, Christiana Career Staff started the first I.A.F.F. Union Local in Delaware for combination department firefighters, which has grown to over 150 members throughout New Castle County, also followed suite in Kent and Sussex Counties with their own locals.
CFC was the first combination department in the state to promote career employees into the officer ranks in 2012 with our first Career Assistant Chief, followed by our first Career Lieutenants in 2015.
In 2026, it was determined that it was unrealistic to expect our volunteer Fire Chief to manage the busiest station in the State of Delaware and one of the busiest in the northeast region on his own time. The company then decided to hire our Chief full time, making him the first Career Fire Chief for CFC.
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Our career staff work seamlessly alongside our volunteer officers and members to ensure we have a minimum of 1 Duty Chief, 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, and 3 BLS units staffed 24/7, 365.
Christiana strives to be the example of a successful combination system for our state and nation.
Current Employment
We currently employ:
- 1 Career Fire Chief
- 1 Career Assistant Chief
- 3 Captains
- 1 Lieutenant
- 16 Firefighters
- 12 EMTs
- A full-time administrator
- A full-time mechanic
CFC also employs over 30 part-time EMTs for BLS staffing.
Our Career Fire/EMS work a 4 Platoon rotation of 24hrs on and 72 hrs off. Each shift has 1 Capt./Lt. (Shift Commander), with 4 Firefighter/EMTs & 3 BLS EMTs.
Leadership
Kevin Cowperthwait
- Career Fire Chief
Brandon Speakman
- Career Assistant Chief
Career Staff Members
Matthew Read
Matt was hired as a career FF/EMT in August of 2016 and is currently assigned as the Lieutenant on B-Platoon. Prior to coming to Christiana, he was a Career FF/EMT for the Camden-Wyoming Fire Company.
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In 2008, Matt joined the Seaford Volunteer Fire Department where he is currently serving as the Fire Chief as of 2026.
Matt also works as an instructor for the Delaware State Fire School, teaching the self-contained breathing apparatus, RIT, and firefighter self-survival.
Matt holds the certifications of:
- Pro Board Firefighter I
- Firefighter II
- Fire Officer I
- Fire Officer II
- Fire Instructor I
- Fire Instructor II
- Incident Safety Officer
- Swiftwater Rescue Tech
- Hazardous Materials Operations
Matt has been awarded a unit citation as a crew member of Ladder 12 that rescued several people from a working building fire.
Positions Held
- 2026 - Shift Commander - D
- 2026 - Lieutenant (Career)
- 2025 - Shift Commander - B
- 2025 - Lieutenant (Career)
- 2024 - Lieutenant (Career)
- 2023 - Lieutenant (Career)
- Continuous - Firefighter/EMT
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