- November 12, 2024
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New interim Fire Chief Dave King presents retired Fire Chief Richard Sievers with a helmet at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Fire Chief Richard Sievers speaks to the four new firefighters — Gage Bergeron, Zander Harper, Kevin Jorza, and Oscar Rodriguez — before they take their oath of office. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Gage Bergeron, Zander Harper, Kevin Jorza, and Oscar Rodriguez take their oath of office at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Firefighter Mark Allen was one of two to receive his badge at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Firefighter Mark Allen's badge is pinned by his mother at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Capt. Bill Baranowski pins Firefighter Mikayla Laks' badge at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Firefighters Logan Selman, Mike Ranni and Robert Zalewski were promoted to driver engineers at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Firefighters Dan Brands and Josh Cady were promoted to captains at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
New Capt. Dan Brands' badge is pinned by his brother at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Josh Cady's promotion is celebrated by his wife and two daughters at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Firefighters Matt Marteeny and Travis Taft were promoted to battalion chiefs at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Battalion Chief Meghan Quartier pins the new badge on her husband Nate Quartier upon his promotion as deputy fire chief at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Interim Fire Chief Dave KIng has been with the city for 23 years and worked his way up the ranks. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bazanos receives his helmet from Fire Chief Richard Sievers at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
New Deputy Chief Nate Quartier has been with the Ormond Beach Fire Department since 2000. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
City Commissioners Rob Littleton, Dwight Selby and Susan Persis present Fire Chief Richard Sievers with a proclamation at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
City Manager Joyce Shanahan presents Chief Richard Sievers with a photo of the two new fire engines acquired under his leadership at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Fire Chief Richard Sievers and his wife Sharon. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
In total, 17 firefighters were celebrated at the achievement ceremony on Monday, Feb. 21. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bazanos, interim Fire Chief Dave King, Commissioner Susan Persis, Fire Chief Richard Sievers and new Deputy Fire Chief Nate Quartier. Collectively, the firefighters represent over 120 years of experience.
Ormond Beach Fire Chief Richard Sievers loves a good quote.
So naturally, during his last achievement ceremony as the city's fire chief at Fire Station 92 on Monday, Feb. 21, Sievers shared a couple regarding change, since that is what the department is experiencing at this time with his retirement, and that of Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bazanos. Four new firefighters took their oath of office at the ceremony, two received their badges, and eight were promoted.
Change is not always bad, Sievers said. He repeated the words of Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: "To improve is to change. To be perfect is to change often."
“That’s exactly what we’re doing in fire service," Sievers said. "Actually, in the entire city. In your life, every single day, it’s always changing.”
Battalion Commander Dave King will serve as the city's interim fire chief upon Siever's departure on Thursday, Feb. 24. Sievers, who dedicated 44 years of his life to fire service, will be returning to the city of Deerfield Beach, where he has been hired as its emergency manager.
Sievers began his career in fire service in 1979 with the city of Lauderhill, where he became fire chief in 1999. He also worked for the Broward Sheriff's Office, the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Lauderdale by the Sea, Cooper City and Deerfield Beach before becoming Ormond Beach's fire chief in 2018.
According to a proclamation presented to him by City Commissioner Susan Persis, Sievers' accomplishments durng his time as fire chief include establishing replacement schedules for large expenditures such as bunker gear and fire trucks, with the first two added to the city's fleet in 2021. He was also responsible for the relocation and upgrade of the city's emergency operations center to Fire Station 92, where he and Bazanos spent the first 10 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic monitoring situations and implementing policies. Sievers also initiated a five-year plan to upgrade the city's emergency traffic control devices to facilitate safer traffic navigation for emergency vehicles and coordinated the transition to upgrade the radio systems in the city.
“Being a firefighter is not just a job. To a firefighter, a badge is not just a badge. It’s a symbol of dedication, hard work and commitment to the community.”
Tom Bazanos, retiring deputy fire chief
King, who postponed his own retirement to aid the department in the transition of chiefs, said he has "huge shoes to fill." An Army veteran, he has been with the department for 23 years, and, forms part of the Ormond Beach Civil Air Patrol. King thanked City Manager Joyce Shanahan for the opportunity to serve as interim fire chief and said Sievers' leadership and guidance brought about many changes and advancements in the department.
“Chief Sievers is a great simplifier," King said. "He has the ability to cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer a solution that everybody can understand and agree upon.”
King also said it was a pleasure to work with Bazanos for the past 17 years. Bazanos is retiring after 38 years in fire service, 21 of which he spent with Port Orange Fire and Rescue.
Bazanos said that he feels blessed to wrap up his career with Sievers as his fire chief, calling him an "energizer bunny" who is always thinking of and presenting new ideas.
“He’s in line with what everybody thinks a good fire chief should be," Bazanos said.
Shanahan thanked both Bazanos and Sievers for their service, and said they are leaving behind a legacy of a united and strong fire department.
“These recent years have tested all of us in so many ways, but one thing we can always rely on is the dedication, resilience and exceptional service provided by our first responders at the Ormond Beach Fire Department," she said.
