Longtime Strasburg firefighter Andy Slemmer was recently promoted to the position of chief. (Photo by Stacey Carmany, Tusco TV)

STRASBURG (TUSCO TV) - One of the village’s veteran firefighters is stepping up to the department’s highest position.

Members of the Strasburg Fire Department recently voted to appoint Andy Slemmer as the replacement for former fire chief Dan Varner who resigned for personal reasons after five years in the position. Slemmer says he plans to carry on the legacy left by his predecessor.

"Just continue in the right footsteps as Dan started, keep on applying for grants and bettering the department so we can serve the community with better equipment," he says.

Strasburg Councilman Martin Zehnder says Varner set the bar high during his time as chief, although he has the utmost confidence in his replacement.

"I thought Dan did an excellent job. As far as I know, I was under the impression that he was involved in getting 1.4 million dollars worth of grants while he was fire chief," he says.

Firefighter Jarred Baer says Slemmer’s promotion was well-deserved. 

“I think Andy truly cares about Strasburg Fire Department. I’ve worked here a year and a half, and through my year and a half he’s always been here on his days off. He always gets up in the middle of the night and runs calls,” he says. “He cares about each and every one of us as his own, and I’m glad to have him as a chief.” 

Slemmer will be celebrating his 20th year as a Strasburg firefighter in July, although his connection with the department goes back to childhood. 

"I actually got started with the fire department back when I was a little squirt. My dad was on the department and I would always come over here whenever there was a call and hang out with the guys, " he says. "That’s how I fell in love with the job. I enjoy helping people."

Council finalized Slemmer’s promotion with a unanimous vote Tuesday evening.

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV