Matt Samhat at helm of NCFD
Posted on 07/08/2021
Fire Chief Matt SamhatMatt Samhat has risen through the ranks of the Northville City Fire Department (NCFD) to become fire chief after first joining the department in 2012 as a firefighter and later becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT), then advancing to serve sequentially as lieutenant, captain, and fire marshal in 2020. He fills the post that opened with the retirement of Steven Ott.

NCFD provides fire suppression, basic life support (BLS) EMS, fire prevention and inspection services and public education for the cities of Northville and Plymouth. The combined department operates out of three stations. The department has a full-time fire chief and 55 part-time and paid on call firefighters and EMS responders. Between the two cities, the department serves an area of 4.5 square miles and a residential population of 15,000. The department responds to approximately 1,600 calls for service each year.

Samhat’s goal as chief is to continue to advance the department by integrating technology into systems and bolstering the recruitment and retention program to combat the shortage of individuals entering the fields of fire and EMS.
What he likes most about firefighting and EMS work is “Having greater involvement in the community and being able to help those in need.”

He earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, and attended the Fire Academy at NCFD. When he learned that most runs involve a medical component, he earned an EMT license. In addition to his firefighting and fire officer certifications, Samhat is a certified State of Michigan Fire Inspector, and a member of the Western Wayne County Urban Search and Rescue Team. He was named Firefighter of the Year for NCFD in 2019 and received commendations from the Novi Department of Public Safety for assisting that agency.

While an on-call firefighter, he worked in construction as his main occupation. He owns a property investment and management company, Samhat Investments, that he will continue to operate outside of his fire chief role. His construction company will be put on hold.
In his spare time, he plays baseball and volleyball with his kids, Max and Lila, and enjoys hiking and camping with his wife, Annie, and their children.