New Savannah Fire Chief Derik Minard was officially sworn in Monday afternoon in City Hall as the department's 35th chief.
Minard comes from the Westminster Fire Department in Colorado, where he served as deputy chief of operations.
Minard served in the United States military before committing to firefighting and working his way through the ranks. In his 28 years of experience, Minard was a firefighter, firefighter paramedic, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, EMS chief and deputy chief of operations.
"This is a position I accept with a servant's heart and humility. Savannah has a remarkable and proud history stemming back to the birth of our country," Minard said. "It is an honor to join a team of men and women with a longstanding sense of dedication, commitment, and passion for helping others."
City Manager Pat Monahan said Minard's dedication to a life of public service and his understanding of serving in all aspects of firefighting stood out among his many attributes.
In his short while on the job, Minard has seen plenty of action. An abandoned hotel caught fire last week, requiring help from local fire departments.
"Responding to the two-alarm fire last Tuesday night, it was an opportunity to see the team in action," Minard said. "It was a little bit surreal that it happened so quickly, and the fact that is was a two-alarm. But just to see the efficiency of the crews on scene, the leadership, how the crews work together, and working closely on that fire with Chatham Fire Department. It was great to see the teams work together."
He has an associate degree in fire science from Red Rocks Community College, a Bachelor of Science in public safety administration, a Master of Science in leadership from Grand Canyon University, and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program.
In welcoming Minard, Mayor Eddie DeLoach said, "260 years ago we started our fire department. That is a big deal. (Savannah was) the first mechanized department. But we do recognize the need to advance and we bring in people like you, and the leadership team we have in Savannah, to do that for us."
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