New Lakewood Fire Chief To Be Sworn In October 6

LAKEWOOD, OH — The annual Lakewood Firefighter Recognition ceremony will see a changing of the guard this year. New Fire Chief Tim Dunphy will be officially sworn-in at the event, which sees community leaders honor fallen firefighters.

The ceremony will be held Sunday, October 6 at Lakewood Fire Station No. 1, 14601 Madison Avenue. The event starts at 12 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Following the ceremony, there will be an open house at the station and a tour of the city's fire museum.

During the event, on-duty fire personnel will gather, in fire apparatus, at Firefighter's Memorial in front of Fire Station No. 1. Mayor Mike Summers will then join community leaders and the city's fire department to honor fallen firefighters, welcome new Lakewood firefighters and say goodbye to firefighters retiring this year. The 2019 departures will feature longtime fire chief Scott Gilman.

Gilman's retirement was announced in mid-July. He had been fire chief since 2011 and worked in Lakewood for nearly four decades.

Dunphy, Gilman's replacement, is a lifelong Lakewood resident and graduate of Lakewood High School. He joined the fire department in 1992 and became the city's fire marshal in 2011.

"Fire Marshal Dunphy brings a wealth of talent, experience, and commitment to protecting our citizens and advancing the performance of our Fire and Emergency Medical Technician first responders" said Summers when Dunphy's hiring was announced. "His concern and desire to serve Lakewood is apparent in each and every element of his being."

The fire department bid adieu to Gilman in a last call ceremony this month. Video of that moment can be seen below.