Goodrich – A Goodrich resident who will be sworn in today as Fire Chief for the City of Flint Fire Department wants to help area students learn from fire history.
Although Robert Elizondo, 43, was eligible to retire last Tuesday, he’s chosen to accept the appointment made by Edward Kurtz, City of Flint financial emergency manager. Kurtz made the appointment upon the recommendation of newly-elected Flint Mayor Donald Williamson.
‘I feel that there’s a lot of work ahead of me,? said Elizondo, a 25-year veteran of the Flint Fire Department. ‘I really look forward to the challenge.?
Elizondo has received other offers, including offers from nearby Oakland County fire departments, but has chosen to stay with Flint, where he’s worked his way ‘up through the ranks? as firefighter, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and battalion chief.
‘I’ve been in every position, I know the system,? he said, swabbing the floors of the fire station as he spoke. ‘I know what it takes to make it go in the right direction.?
Flint’s bleak financial condition led to the elimination of such divisions as the Fire Prevention Bureau and the Arsen Division, he said. Since word of Elizondo’s appointment became known late last month, his ‘participatory? plan has boosted firefighter morale.
‘Flint was at one time one of the top fire departments, not only in the state but in the nation,? said Elizondo, who wants to bring the city ‘back to the level where everybody’ll say, ‘Flint is back.? It means figuring out how to do with less people and still meet the needs of the community.?
As a Fire Science and HazMet teacher at Mott Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint, Elizondo is also aware of the importance of learning from fire history.
Despite the city’s financial condition, Elizondo’s dream is to write grants and obtain funding through local foundations to develop a historical society at a fire station that could be utilized by area students. Last year, Elizondo wrote $500,000 worth of grants, he said. A fire museum would be an ideal setting to teach fire and police safety and evaluate what students learn, ‘kind of like Ford museum, where students could take field trips, but classroom-oriented,? said Elizondo.
Elizondo’s appointment as Fire Chief of the City of Flint Fire Department is effective March 1.