Names in the News: May 29, 2022

GINA DANOS was named as the first-ever female chief of the Montegut (LA) Fire Department (MFD). Danos is an 18-year MFD member who began her career there in 2004, serving in multiple roles including president for the Montegut Volunteers, a paramedic and captain, and in community relations. She takes over the position from previous MFD chief Toby Henry, who joined the Bayou Cane Fire Department in April as its new EMS chief.  

JASON FERSCHKE was unanimously selected to become the new chief of the Natick (MA) Fire Department. Ferschke, who is currently the deputy chief of the Westborough (MA) Fire Department (WFD), takes over the position from previous NFD chief Michael Lentini, who retired. Ferschke became a junior firefighter with the Auburn (MA) Fire Department (AFD) and lived at its firehouse while attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He then became a call firefighter in 1996. Ferschke worked with the AFD until 2007, when he moved to the WFD. There, he rose through the ranks, becoming its deputy chief in 2016.

ERIC GRIZZARD will take over as the new chief of the Germantown (TN) Fire Department (GFD) on July 1. Grizzard joined the GFD in 2005 as a firefighter and was eventually promoted to its assistant chief of operations in 2021. Prior to working for the GFD, he worked for Ambulance Services Inc., Horn Lake Emergency Medical Services, and the Southaven Fire Department. Grizzard has also served as the Region 8 president for the West Tennessee EMS Directors Association and as the committee chair for Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Swift Water Credentialing Committee.

ROBERT WILHOIT was named the new fire marshal for the Albemarle (NC) Fire Department (AFD). Wilhoit takes over the position from the city’s previous fire marshal Michael Roark, who became Stanly County’s Emergency Services director. Wilhoit began his career with the AFD in 2000, and in 2010 was promoted to the rank of engineer. In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of captain. Wilhoit also served as assistant fire marshal for Stanly County since 2004 and spent 35 years with Stanly County Rescue, serving 14 of those years as its chief.

SHAWN SCHADLE was sworn in as the new chief of the Belvidere (IL) Fire Department (BFD) on May 16. Schadle started his career at the BFD in June 2006, rising through its ranks to eventually become the department’s lieutenant in 2015 and then its captain in 2018. He has a master’s degree in business administration and finance from the University of Nebraska, a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, and is a certified Chief Fire Officer with the Office of the State Fire Marshall. Schadle succeeds previous BFD chief Al Hyser.