Brandon Twp.- The township board unanimously approved at their July 13 meeting the promotions of two fire department personnel and the hiring of a new full-time firefighter.
Billy Starr has been promoted to captain, replacing Mike Faust, who recently retired. Doug Brice was promoted to lieutenant to replace Starr, a former sergeant. Brice’s promotion necessitated a new full-time firefighter, and the board also unanimously approved the hiring of Mike Ohlert.
The promotions and new hire were all positions for which there was competition. Starr and Brice were recommended by Fire Chief Dave Kwapis as the best candidates to be promoted due to receiving the highest overall scores following a written test, oral board and interview. Ohlert was awarded the full-time firefighter/medic job after being the highest scoring candidate on written tests, oral board, interview and physical agility that also had the necessary paramedic license.
Kwapis praised all his staff and noted that the department is still low on part-time personnel.
‘We could add 20 paid on-call firefighters if we could find that many,? he said.
Anyone at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED that is interested in becoming a paid on-call firefighter can contact Kwapis or Captain Dan Flood at Station #1, 248-627-4000. Candidates will be required to attend firefighter courses for six months and an emergency medical technician course that lasts five months. The department will pay for the cost of the training.