Brown picked as new Vermilion fire chief

VERMILION — After 31 years as a Wellington firefighter, Bill Brown is ready to be chief. He's been hired for the top job at the Vermilion Fire Department, where he will start June 13. "I've gotten to see a lot and do a lot, but one thing I haven't gotten to do is run a department," Brown said Tuesday. "It will be a big step. I'm ready for it." Brown started at the Wellington Fire District in 1991 and was promoted to full-time in January 2001. As assistant chief, he's helped see his hometown through a number of dire emergencies, from mass evacuations following a gas leak in 2012 to a train derailment in May 2019 and a natural gas line rupture that November that left thousands of residents in the cold. The huge territory that spans much of southern Lorain County has kept Brown — one of the district's two full-time employees — busy with his fair share of crashes, flooding, structure fires and medical runs. By comparison, Vermilion actually handles about half the calls per year. Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer said that after looking at 19 applications and five finalists, he feels Brown will be the perfect fit. "The feedback's all been positive. Quite a few people have said he'll do a good job, couldn't be a better pick," he said. Brown also earned the blessing of the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, which recommended his hire after being involved in the interview process. Outgoing Vermilion Fire Chief Chris Stempowski also backed Brown's hire. Stempowski has led the department for 15 years, and according to Forthofer is stepping down because of combined demands of chief's role and his job at Ford. Forthofer said Stempowski has done an incredible job balancing his private-sector career and family life while answering fire calls at all hours of the day and night. "He has earned the right to take a rest, and he has also earned the right to still have a future with this (fire) department in some capacity, if that is what he wants," the mayor said. Brown has both the time and expertise to move the Vermilion Fire Department forward, Forthofer said. He has served as a volunteer firefighter as well as a career officer — perspectives that will be useful if the city ever considers going to a full-time fire department. Forthofer said there is no plan to move in that direction, but city officials "need to take an over-the-fence look" at options for the future. Brown said he plans to give his letter of resignation to the Wellington Fire District board tonight. It's his plan to be available in an on-call advisory capacity there for the next six months. "Obviously, I'm happy for him. I think it's a very good opportunity for him, and wish him nothing but the best," Wellington Fire Chief Mike Wetherbee said. Both he and Brown sought to be Wellington's chief in 2011. Wetherbee said he remembers the disappointment in his co-workers' eyes when the decision was made. "He's served long enough under me and he is going to be a good chief," Wetherbee said. "He's been valuable here, and you never want to lose a good man, but you also don't want to hold him back." Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.