On Wednesday, March 13, 2025 the LaGrange Fire District promoted new and current line officers to best serve the community and support the safety of the firefighters working.  In recent months the Board of Fire Commissioners with support of the current Chief staff and the LaGrange Professional Firefighters, Local 3813 Collective Bargaining Unit, agreed on a plan to implement Captains within the rank structure.  Additionally, the upper level of command staff is supported with the addition of a Deputy Chief of Fire adding to the current staffing structure of a Deputy Chief of Fire/EMS and the Chief of the Department.

The promotional ceremony began with the promotion of four new Lieutenants, with one Lieutenant assigned to one of the four groups (shifts) as a first-line supervisor for the career firefighters.  The ceremony continued with the promotion of four current Lieutenants to the newly created positions of Captain(s), with one Captain assigned to each of the four groups, to act as the shift commander for the whole of the members on duty.  The final portion of the ceremony concluded with the promotion of a current line officer to the position of Deputy Chief of Fire.

Please follow the link below for a full right up of the ceremony by Mid Hudson News.

Photo courtesy of Mid Hudson New; Todd Bender

From Left to Right: Captain Paul DeMilto, Captain Jason Ryan, Captain Kyle Rancourt, Captain Joseph Kile, Deputy Chief Bryan Zittel, Lieutenant Brendan Whalen, Lieutenant Randi Port, Lieutenant Bradley Hildenbrand, and Lieutenant Sean Hatfield.

LaGrange fire department establishes new command staff (GALLERY)