The Eastern Salisbury Fire Department has announced the appointment of the organization’s fire operations officers for 2016.

Nominations were taken in November 2015 and a vote was taken Dec. 7, 2015 by the membership for appointments to be made effective Jan. 1.

David Tomcics was named chief of ESFD. Tomcics has been with ESFD since 1998. He started as a junior firefighter, became a senior firefighter, lieutenant for one year, assistant chief for four years and chief since 2013. He has also held administrative positions in the department. He is a nationally certified firefighter II, certified fire inspector and a certified vehicle rescue technician.

Kyle Swartz was named assistant chief of ESFD for 2016. Swartz started with the department in 1992 while a senior in high school. After four years of active duty in the Air Force, Swartz returned to the department upon his return home. He was a member lieutenant for one year and was named assistant chief in 2015. He is a nationally certified firefighter I and is certified in basic and special vehicle rescue. He is a member of the Air National Guard.

Lindsey Tomcics was named fire captain for 2016. A member since 2009, she is the first female firefighter in the department. This is her first year as a captain. She is a senior firefighter and a nationally certified firefighter II and vehicle rescue technician. She has also taken the emergency vehicle operators course.

Austin Bartholomew was named fire lieutenant. He started in 2013 and was a senior firefighter. He has his firefighter I, vehicle rescue technician and hazmat operations certifications.

Frank Bummer was named fire police captain. He started in 1970 as a junior firefighter. He then became a lieutenant, captain, fire police lieutenant and fire police captain. This is his 20th straight year as a fire police captain. He is certified in basic and advanced fire police, legal concepts, public relations, highway safety and has taken the emergency vehicle operations course.

James Tomcics was named fire police lieutenant. He has been with ESFD for 23 years joining in 1992. He has been a fire police lieutenant since 1998. He is certified in basic and advanced fire police, legal concepts, public relations and highway safety and has taken the emergency vehicle operations course.

“The Eastern Salisbury Fire Department answered 325 fire calls in 2015,” David Tomcics said. “We could not have done this without the talent and support from our current 30 ESFD members and their families for allowing our members to leave at a moment’s notice to help Salisbury Township residents in their time of need.

“Our members put a lot of time and effort into training every week and sometimes weekends to have the highest skill set necessary to respond to any emergency.”

David Tomcics said the department is always in need of volunteers who spend approximately 20 hours a month with the department. Officers volunteer additional hours. Training is provided for volunteers.

“Being the chief is a thankless job but working with these volunteers makes it all worth it,” David Tomcics said.