New fire chief talks about future of department

FOSTORIA—On March 7, Fostoria officially welcomed new Fire Chief Jason Root during the city council meeting where he was sworn in. Root, who has been actively working within the Fostoria Fire Department for 28 years, said he moved up through the ranks of being a firefighter, lieutenant and captain, which has led him to become fire chief. "I thought I could play a positive role for the department," he said. "I know the department inside and out, and I know the city really well," he said. When asked what he is looking forward to most as the new fire chief, Root said, "society has changed a lot, so we're trying to advance ourselves to provide the best service we can for the community." Root explained he is looking to move the community forward through the fire division's services and successes. He noted that he wants to equip the department members with the proper skills they need to go out into the ever-changing environment. Since the department has a lot of seasoned professionals working, Root said within the near future they will be looking to train the younger professionals and equip them with the tools and skills needed to continue providing vital services to the community. Currently, the Fostoria Fire Division has 18 members available for shift work, each shift containing a captain, lieutenant and six firefighters. Root said the department averages 2,200 calls per year, with 80% being EMS and the rest being fire-related calls. "We all strive to be professionals," he said. Root said previous Fire Chief Brian Herbert left many beneficial resources for him to utilize, which will also help set the department up for success. "I want to make sure I'm listening to the needs that are out there," Root said of the department and the community. "I think the biggest thing for the community as a whole is that we want to continue to gain their respect and earn that respect by providing a high level of service to them."