Rome fire chief to retire Friday

Ronald Brement is retiring Friday as chief of the Rome Fire Department.

Brement, 58, spent the last 11 of his 35 years with the department as chief -- a pretty good career for someone that graduated from Utica College with a degree in accounting, Brement said.

"It was kind of unscripted," Brement said about what would end up becoming his career.

Brement said he had no thoughts of joining a fire department until meeting the man that would become his father-in-law, who served in a fire department. This relationship led to Brement taking a harder look at the service as a potential career.

After that, Brement found himself joining the Rome Fire Department shortly after graduating in 1984. He then rose through the ranks until his appointment as chief in March 2009.

Rome Mayor Jacqueline Izzo had nothing but praise for Brement.

She said the city's fire department improved under his leadership, specifically pointing to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant Brement helped secure that allowed the department to purchase $300,000 in turnout gear.

"I think he's been a very effective chief," she said. "He's been a great servant of Rome."

While the mayor has already chosen Brement's replacement, she declined to name them Wednesday. She declined to go into further detail.

Izzo will announce her decision Tuesday during a promotional ceremony that will also include the naming of two new deputies at city hall.

Doing more with less

Brement said there were 100 firefighters working within the Rome Fire Department when he joined. There are only 78 serving now, he said.

The decrease in firefighters comes with an increase in call volume.

Brement said there were roughly 1,500 to 2,000 calls a year when began. The department now responds to 6,000-7,000 calls yearly within the city's 77-mile radius.

The increase in service calls are likely attributable to other responsibilities, including accidents, emergencies and other types of similar situations. Responding to fires is the smallest part of the job, Brement said.

"It's a unique job," Brement said. "We're problem solvers."

Looking forward

Brement highlighted a few areas while looking back at his almost four-decade career.

Some highlights include earlier house inspections for hazards and partnering with the American Red Cross to install smoke detectors at homes within the city, Brement said.

"The best insurance you can have is a properly installed smoke detector," Brement said.

Brement said his retirement is a planned exit. His future plans include working on projects around the home and traveling with his wife.

"It's been a good career," Brement said.

Contact reporter Ed Harris at 315-792-5063 or follow him on Twitter (@OD_EHarris).

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