Columbus Fire Department has hired two new firefighters, Eric Brown and Derrick Chitwood.
They fill vacancies left by the recent retirements of Lt. Tony Shipley, who served 31 years, and Firefighter Doug Harrison, who served 21 years.
Brown, 25, is a Hope resident and a 2010 Graduate of Columbus North High School. He is a 2014 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in health care administration. Brown is a member of the Indiana National Guard, having served since 2012. He is a certified emergency medical technician and holds a Firefighter I/II certification. Brown has been employed by Fourman Enterprises in Hope since 2014.
Chitwood, 27, is a Columbus resident. He is a 2008 graduate of Liberty County High School in Bristol, Florida. Chitwood is a certified paramedic and rope rescue technician. He holds a Firefighter I/II certification and an awareness and operations level certification for hazardous materials. Chitwood has been employed with the Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service since 2012. Chitwood has four years of fire service experience as a volunteer firefighter with the Columbus Township Fire Department.
Brown and Chitwood were sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop at Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at City Hall.
Both will go through a department orientation and training program before receiving their shift and station assignments.
