Christopher Way named Charleston County EMS chief, effective Friday

Charleston County announced that Christopher Way has been selected to lead the Emergency Medical Services Department, effective Friday, August 22, 2025.

Chief Way brings more than 33 years of emergency services experience, most recently serving as Fire Chief for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue in northern Idaho, a position he held since May 2020. Previously, he spent seven years as Chief Officer for the Kootenai County EMS System.

His career began at the age of 16 as a junior volunteer firefighter in Kansas, where he simultaneously completed EMT training. He has since served in Fire and EMS roles across urban, suburban, and rural settings, working his way through the ranks to achieve various leadership positions.

A recognized leader in disaster management and incident command, Chief Way has been deployed to emergencies at the local, state, and national levels. He recently completed his second term as chairman of the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency Council, focusing on ensuring heart attack, stroke, and trauma patients receive the right level of care in the right amount of time.

In addition to his operational leadership, Chief Way is active in advancing the EMS profession nationwide. He currently serves as president of the National EMT Association and sits on several professional boards.

“Chief Way’s depth of experience, national perspective, and passion for advancing EMS make him a tremendous asset to Charleston County,” said Deputy County Administrator for Public Safety Eric Watson. “We are excited to welcome him to our leadership team and look forward to the energy and expertise he will bring to our EMS department and the community we serve.”

Chief Way holds a bachelor’s degree in management and human relations from Mid America Nazarene University and maintains his emergency service licenses.

He is relocating to Charleston County alongside his wife, Jennifer, who is an Emergency Room nurse. Together, they have two daughters.