City News & Updates

From left to right: Dave Teusch, Nick Bauer, Rex Drabenstot, Tony Johnson and Leon Hurlburt, all of the Huntington Fire Department, and Mayor Richard Strick.

The Huntington Fire Department promoted two deserving team members during a Monday morning ceremony at the City Building.

The first to be promoted was Nick Bauer, a 24-year member of the department who has served as Lieutenant since 2019. Bauer will now serve as the Assistant Chief of Operations.

Fire Chief Tony Johnson said during Monday’s ceremony that he’s confident in Bauer’s vision for HFD’s future after working with him for many years.

“When I proposed adding this position to the Mayor, he asked me if I had anyone in mind to fill it,” Chief Johnson said. “I told him Nick was at the top of my list.”

Bauer was joined at the Oath of Office ceremony by his wife, Kristy, and their son, Nash, who held the ceremonial Bible for his father.

After 11 years with the Department, Rex Drabenstot will now fill the position of Lieutenant. Drabenstot has also been HFD’s Training Coordinator for the past three years.

“Rex has taken our training program to the next level, not only with coordinating and documenting all yearly training exercises, but mentoring our newest firefighters to quickly learn the skills needed on the fireground,” Chief Johnson said.

Drabenstot also oversees the peer fitness training program and leads annual work performance evaluations to ensure all Huntington firefighters are fulfilling the requirements and duties of their jobs. His wife, Shya, joined him at Monday’s ceremony and held the ceremonial Bible as he was sworn into his new role.