Names in the News: August 6, 2023

BRIAN O’NEILL was sworn in as the new chief of the Louisville (KY) Fire Department (LFD) on August 1. O’Neill, who was named the LFD’s next chief in May, is a 20-year veteran of the department who most recently served as a battalion chief. A Marine Corps veteran, he also served as president of the Louisville Professional Firefighters Local #54 for a decade. O’Neill succeeds previous LFD chief Gregory Frederick, who retired after a four-decade run with the department, the past 24 years as its chief.

GERARD WASHINGTON will take over as the new chief of the Vista (CA) Fire Department (VFD) on August 14. Washington is a 30-plus-year firefighting veteran for the state of Wisconsin. He previously served the past three years as chief of the Menomonee Falls (WI) Fire Department. Prior to that, Washington worked for more than 28 years with the Milwaukee (WI) Fire Department, eventually rising through the ranks there to eventually serve as an assistant chief and a battalion chief, among other roles.

ANDREW PELIS was sworn in as the new interim chief of Northampton (MA) Fire Rescue (NFR) on July 28, with his formal appointment awaiting city council approval. Pelis began his career as a firefighter with NFR in 1998, moving up through the ranks to eventually become a training officer, fire prevention officer, hazmat technician, shift captain, deputy chief, assistant chief, and now chief. Pelis succeeds previous NFR chief Jon Davine, who recently took over as Massachusetts’ new state fire marshal.

JERRY HOLT will retire as chief of the Urbandale (IA) Fire Department (UFD) after serving in the role for the past 25 years. Holt is a 40-year fire service veteran who joined the UFD after beginning his career with the Eufaula (AL) Fire Department, where he was a training officer. He leaves as the UFD’s first-ever paid chief after the department transitioned to an all-paid staff in 2000. Through the years, Holt expanded the department, hiring more paid employees and eventually adding two more stations to serve Urbandale’s booming population growth.

SCOTT WIRTH was appointed as the new chief of the Fort Myers Beach (FL) Fire Control District (FMBFD) on July 26. Wirth had been serving as the FMBFD’s acting chief since March. At the time he took over in that role, he was working as the district’s chief of operations. He began his fire career as a fire official back in 1989 while still in high school. He then joined the Placid Lakes Volunteer Fire Department in Lake Placid, Florida. Wirth also worked as a non-certified firefighter before being hired by the Fort Myers (FL) Fire Department in 1991.