[Archived] City of Alexandria Fire Chief Gary Mesaris Resigns To Become New Chief of Airports’ Fire Department

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	January 22, 2007 PIO# 020-07/jbh	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA FIRE CHIEF GARY MESARIS RESIGNS
TO BECOME NEW CHIEF OF AIRPORTS’ FIRE DEPARTMENT

Alexandria Fire Chief Gary A. Mesaris today announced his resignation to become Fire Chief at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Chief Mesaris came to Alexandria in June 2003 after having served for 13 years as Fire Chief in the City of Fairfax, Virginia. He previously served for 22 years with the Fairfax County Fire Department, rising through the ranks from Firefighter to Chief Deputy Fire Chief.

“We regret that Chief Mesaris is leaving the City of Alexandria,” said City Manager James K. Hartmann. “But we recognize that he has been offered a very challenging public safety position overseeing fire protection at two of the nation’s major airports. Gary has been a key member of the City’s management team for almost four years, and we wish him well in his new position.”

“I am proud of this department’s accomplishments during my tenure as Fire Chief,” said Chief Mesaris. “I am confident the Alexandria Fire Department will continue to function at a level and with a reputation that is sought and envied by many, but achieved by only a few.”

Under Chief Mesaris’s leadership, the Alexandria Fire Department established the Emergency Preparedness Division, increased minority and women representation, implemented an inventory and equipment accountability system, and won City Council approval to build the City’s first new fire station in over 30 years. While still in the planning stages, the Potomac Yard Fire Station and affordable housing structure is already being lauded as an innovative way to maximize public benefit from essential public buildings.

In recent years, the Fire Department enhanced emergency medical service delivery capability through additional field supervision and increased the number of ambulances staffed with two paramedics, 24 hours each day. The department also enhanced its capabilities by adding several state-of-the-art response vehicles, including a new fireboat, light-and-air unit, medical support unit, and trailers for special events and weapons of mass destruction operations.

In 2005, Fire Department personnel also participated as part of the Northern Virginia Regional response to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.

Chief Mesaris will remain on the job through the month of February. Upon his departure, Deputy Chief Russell Middleton will serve as acting chief until a successor is named. In addition to being advertised internally, the position of Fire Chief will also be the subject of a nationwide search by the City of Alexandria.

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