Harold B. Hairston, former Fire Commissioner of Philadelphia, has dedicated nearly 40 years to public service.   On July 1, 1992, Mr. Hairston was appointed to the position of Fire Commissioner by Mayor Edward G. Rendell, and was reappointed in January of 2000 by Mayor John F. Street. During his tenure, Commissioner Hairston was responsible for 2,500 employees, comprising the fifth largest fire department in the United States. He now works as a consultant for fire and other safety issues for CBS3-TV.

Commissioner Hairston resides in the West Mount Airy section of Philadelphia with his wife Anne, a teacher.  They have two children - Harold, also a teacher and Jennifer, a recent graduate of Drexel University and paralegal at a Philadelphia law firm.  The Hairston's have one grandchild, Andrew.