Orlando Mayor Announces Jason Revoldt as City's New Fire Chief
Jason Revoldt, veteran of the Orlando Fire Department, has been appointed as the department's new fire chief.
Revoldt, who has served the department for nearly 24 years, is the city's first fire chief who is also a sworn law enforcement officer.
"A true servant leader, Chief Revoldt has a great love for OFD, its history and its important role in our community," Mayor Buddy Dyer said. "I am confident that he will help ensure that the department’s first responders can continue to be there for residents when they need high-quality medical care and fire services."
In October, Revoldt was named interim fire chief after Charlie Salazar announced his retirement after leading the department for three years.
“I’m truly humbled by the trust placed in me by Mayor Dyer, the residents of Orlando, and—most importantly—my fire family,” Revoldt shared in a statement. “For nearly a quarter of a century, I’ve been fortunate to serve this department, and I promise to never take that trust for granted.”
He has served in served in many areas of the fire department, from operations to fire prevention and investigation and the department's arson/bomb unit.
While working in the Life Safety Bureau, he was involved development of a Youth Fire Setters program which sought to educate youngsters who started fires. He oversaw the bureau as deputy chief and was the city's fire marshal.
A sworn law enforcement officer, he was a part of the Arson/Bomb Unit as a fire investigator. With his former K-9 partner, Nessie, Revoldt has responded to fire investigations across the state.
He was involved with fire station projects, including the construction project management for Fire Station 6, helping with the design of Fire Station 18 and guiding the development of a temporary facility for Fire Station 19. One key goal of those projects with incorporating firefighter health and safety into those designs.
One of the projects he is tasked with is the design of a new firefighter training academy.
Revoldt received a Class IV Meritorious Award for his work to rescue a near-drowning victim in a retention pond.
Dyer said Revoldt will officially sworn-in as the city's 22nd fire chief during a Change of Command Ceremony at a later date.
The 140-year-old Orlando Fire Department has nearly 700 members.
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Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.