A retired deputy chief with the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department is the new full-time fire chief in Rossford.
The city council unanimously approved hiring Richard Syroka at Monday’s meeting. Mr. Syroka and Councilman Chris Heban were not at the meeting.
Mayor Neil MacKinnon II said he expects Mr. Syroka will lead the department for one year, helping Rossford transition from part-time operations to full time.
Mr. Syroka is expected to either help develop a Rossford firefighter/paramedic to assume chief duties in 2026, or help advise on hiring someone new, Mayor MacKinnon said before the council meeting started.
The new fire chief will be paid around $100,000 annually, the mayor said.
Mr. Syroka, who is 67, said he is coming out of retirement, which was in November, 2022, to take the job. At the end of his 33-year fire career with Toledo, he was deputy chief.
“After talking to the mayor and council, I could tell they were looking for the type of leader to get them through this tough time,” he said Monday night. “I’ve worked with some great chiefs and surrounded myself with personnel and members of my immediate crew that helped me shine. It’s all about who you surround yourself with.”
His first task is to review 21 full-time firefighter/paramedic applications, then to find an assistant chief.
“It’s a challenge, but if you know me, I’ve been involved in challenges my whole life” Mr. Syroka said by phone Monday night. “That’s what we do as firefighters. There are challenges and we solve them. We’re problem solvers.”
He received the Ohio Fire Service Valor Award in September, 1994. Mr. Syroka said his crew responded to a grocery fire on Erie and Bush streets, and another crew member got lost in the store, which was consumed with smoke and debris. By communicating on a portable radio, Mr. Syroka and another firefighter located him and pulled him out.
He constantly preaches safety.
“You always err on the side of safety — safety, safety, safety,” Mr. Syroka said.
His wife, Wendy, is retired from Owens Corning. Their daughter, Sara Jobe, is a nurse anesthetist and their son, Ben, is a clerk for federal Judge Jack Zouhary. They have three grandchildren.
They lived for three decades in Washington Township, but recently downsized and now reside in Temperance, Mich.
While with Toledo, he was an integral part of the team that created the department’s building maintenance program, nationally accredited safety officer program, and safety officer training program.
He also assisted with the building of two new fire stations and the renovation of a station. Mr. Syroka also helped with installing new fire prevention records software and assisted in starting the fire investigation unit, in collaboration with the Toledo Police Department.
Currently, he is a proctor with the Bowling Green State University Fire School and an assessor with officer promotional assessments for various cities around the country. He also serves on the fire advisory board for Bedford Township.
Mr. Syroka’s hiring comes just a week after Mayor MacKinnon proposed hiring a Springfield Township firefighter/paramedic for the chief’s job. The majority of council did not support the hire, with some saying Zachary Bingham was not experienced enough for the job.
“I basically went back to the drawing board,” Mayor MacKinnon said.
Mr. Syroka was recommended by former Toledo Fire Chief Luis Santiago and Bob Reinbolt, Toledo’s former safety director and chief of staff for three mayors.
The mayor said he interviewed Mr. Syroka and then had each councilman speak with him.
“There’s very few people in the industry that have his qualifications and work experience,” Mayor MacKinnon said. “I expect him to be here at least a year, seeing us through the process of going from part time to full time, and hiring a new fire chief.”
Mayor MacKinnon said he spoke with Mr. Bingham earlier Monday. He said he encouraged Mr. Bingham to apply to be a full-time Rossford firefighter. Mr. Bingham, who gave notice to Springfield Township after the mayor’s appointment, was terminated from the township last week.
“I am very, very impressed with Zach and he’s going to do great things. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Mayor MacKinnon said.
Councilman Brenna Reynolds said she’s had some sleepless nights and shed some tears throughout this process.
“But I feel confident that we’re headed in the right direction. We’ve got a great department, and I can’t wait to see it grow,” Ms. Reynolds said. “It’s onward and upward from here out.”
After the meeting, Caroline Eckel, council president, said she was impressed with Mr. Syorka’s qualifications.
“He comes to us with a lot of experience, and he’s going to be a really good mentor,” she said. “I think he is a great person to get us on track for full time.”
Councilman Larry Oberdorf, Sr. said he had a notable Zoom interview with Mr. Syorka.
“I was impressed with not only his credentials, but how he answered the questions,” he said. “I think it’s a wonderful move in the right direction.”
First Published January 28, 2025, 2:42 a.m.
