Members of the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company gathered on Dec. 16 to elect new leadership for the coming year. Francesco Barbera was named chief, after having served as first assistant chief the last year. Frank Ozol, a former chief with extensive experience, was elected first assistant chief.
Barbera, who ran unopposed, said he was excited about stepping into the role of chief, which marks the culmination of years of service and preparation.
“I mean, it’s one thing to run a business where people are motivated by being employed,” Barbera, an engineer, said. “It’s a completely different thing to run a volunteer organization.”
Ozol, who faced competition for first assistant chief, brings a wealth of experience, having served as chief for two terms in the past. He said that he was motivated to run particularly because the role includes overseeing training, which will give him the chance to share his decades of experience.
“I think I can do a good job as the training chief because I’ve done it before,” Ozol said. “I can back up the chief better than someone who has never been through it.”
Barbera highlighted the mutual support among the company’s members. “Frank has always been there throughout my firefighting career,” he said of Ozol. “Now it’s my opportunity to make sure he’s supported, too.”
The role of chief in a volunteer fire company is multifaceted, combining administrative, operational and firefighting responsibilities.
“The chief is the head of everything — the business end, the firematic” — duties relating to firefighting — “and everything in between,” Ozol explained. “The buck stops with him.”
Assistant chiefs take on delegated tasks while preparing for potential future leadership roles. Ozol emphasized the importance of the second assistant chief’s responsibility for training, ensuring that all members are prepared for the diverse challenges they may face.
“Running a volunteer organization is a completely different challenge,” Barbera said. “The experiences you gain are invaluable, and it’s something I had my heart set on doing.”
The new leadership team is looking forward to a busy year, highlighted by the arrival of a new tanker truck. The truck will replace a 1972 Mac that long ago exceeded its service life. Barbera and Ozol described the critical role the new vehicle will play in covering areas of their disrict that lack fire hydrants, such as parts of Cove Neck and Laurel Hollow.
“These areas don’t have hydrants, so the tanker is a vital piece of equipment,” Ozol said. “In the old days, we had to draft water from the bay.”
The company plans to host a “wet down” ceremony to formally inaugurate the new tanker and a recently acquired ladder truck. Wet-downs, a time-honored tradition in the firefighting community, celebrate the introduction of new apparatus into a department’s fleet by soaking them with fire hoses.
Barbera credited Ozol for helping shape his career, recalling how Ozol guided him through his training.
“This place is a huge family,” Barbera said. “We build off each other, and our jobs are to build each other up.”
Both leaders are optimistic about the company’s direction.
“We’re looking forward to some really good things,” Ozol said. “We feel we have a strong line of officers, from the chief down to the lieutenants.”
In addition to operational improvements, the fire company aims to enhance its training programs and community engagement. The introduction of new equipment will require extensive training to ensure that company members can operate the vehicles.
“We’re still training guys to drive the new ladder truck,” Barbera said. “Both trucks are new, so there’s a lot to do.”
Barbera and Ozol both emphasized that while they are honored to have been elected to their new positions and look forward to continuing to improve the team, the focus is always on keeping the community safe.
“We’re here to serve,” Barbera said, “and we’re fortunate to have a dedicated team that’s always ready to step up.”
