By Mike O’Neal
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
The town of Signal Mountain’s new fire chief reported for duty Monday.
“I already feel like a family member,” Chief John Vlasis said after his first day on the job. “This is a department with a good group of professionals.”
Diane Campbell, the town manager who hired the new chief Friday, said he is “viewed as someone with a background that will benefit the town as it continues to grow.”
Chief Vlasis, 53, is a veteran of more than 34 years in fire and safety-related organizations. He retired as a Chattanooga Fire Department battalion chief in November 2004.
“I’ve worked medical, rescue and firefighting,” he said.
Chief Vlasis’ firefighting career began in 1972 when he volunteered for both the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department and the Hamilton County Rescue Squad.
After joining the Chattanooga Fire Department’s medical division in 1976, he became a shift commander in 1980 and was supervisor over the Emergency Medical Services operation until 1992 when the countywide EMS system was developed.
Next, Mr. Vlasis served as a captain with a fire station, in the mid-1990s he was safety officer for the department and in 2000 was made battalion chief over 11 fire companies.
He said his new position’s challenge is to continue developing a department that offers service second to none whenever anyone places a 911 call.
“This is a small bedroom community that deserves nothing less than the best,” Chief Vlasis said. “My philosophy is that my loyalty is toward the citizens. They expect and deserve the best efforts of everyone involved with Signal Mountain Fire Department.”
The Town Council in 1993 created the position of public safety director to oversee fire and police departments, but in 2003 it was discovered that such a position violated the town’s charter. In May 2004, Boyd Veal, formerly a police lieutenant for the town, was hired as police chief, and Donald Frazey, a fire department lieutenant, was hired as fire chief.
Mr. Frazey will return to active line duty with the 15-member fire department, Chief Vlasis said.
Chief Vlasis’ annual $45,968 salary will be prorated because he assumed his position after the start of the fiscal year, officials said.
“Every firefighter is on the job because they want to help people,” Chief Vlasis said. “We are first responders. We are problem solvers.”