On Thursday, March 25, in a formal ceremony, Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer presented badges to honor the promotions of Fire Chief John Miller and 23 other Orlando Fire Department (OFD) staff including Deputy Chiefs Gregory Hoggatt, John McCormack and Edwin Youman. The promotional ceremony, an OFD time honored tradition, is an opportunity for firefighters to be recognized for their career advancements within the department.
Other OFD staff recognized included:
* 1 Assistant Chief
* 3 District Chiefs
* 8 Lieutenants
* 8 Engineers
In February, Mayor Dyer appointed John Miller as the new Chief of OFD. During his 22-year tenure with OFD, Miller has managed every division including Field Operations, Fire Safety Management, Communications, Training, Supply, Public Relations and EMS. Most recently, Miller was an integral part of OFD’s administration during a period of tremendous growth including the construction of six new fire stations, the first LEED-certified stations in Florida and the new state-of-the-art headquarters in Downtown Orlando.
Established in 1885, OFD began as a group of dedicated volunteers. Operating as “Orlando Hook and Ladder Company No. 1”, “Orlando Hose Company No. 1”, and “Mechanics Hose and Engine Company No. 2”, these men proudly served to protect the lives and property of the 1,666 citizens of Orlando.
Today the more than 490 men and women of OFD proudly continue this tradition with 17 Firehouses serving a population of more than 228,000 people within a 110 square mile area.
In 2009, OFD responded to 44,420 emergency incidents ranging from fires and emergency medical calls to rescue and other emergency-type incidents. The department is ranked in the top 1/10th of 1 percent of all fire departments in the nation with an ISO rating of 1.
