A longtime member of the Niagara Falls Fire Department and its labor union, Joseph Pedulla, will take over as city fire chief this week.
Mayor Paul Dyster announced Pedulla's appointment on Friday. He will succeed Thomas Colangelo in the department's top role.
Dyster did not comment on the decision but is scheduled to speak at an appointment ceremony scheduled for Tuesday.
Colangelo assumed the role in 2012, filling the boots of former chief William MacKay, who resigned in 2010. Pedulla has previously served as the president of Niagara Falls Uniformed Fire Fighters Association, Local 714.
Risky Sanabria, the current president of Local 714, said there were a number of interested candidates from the union, but he was happy to see Pedulla selected and is confident in his leadership ability.
"We’re looking forward to the Pedulla chapter in the fire department's history," he said.
Colangelo will return to his original platoon he served on as a rookie firefighter after serving more than three decades in the department.
"I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish," Colangelo said, naming a current project to bring a fire training tower into the city as among his top achievements.
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