Posted Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Fire Department Promotes One, Hires Two

First picture, from left to right: Fire Chief Tony Johnson, Assistant Chief Kevin Close, Fireman Austin Eltzroth, Deputy Fire Chief Dave Teusch, Fireman Ashton McCue, Assistant Chief Wayne Huff, Assistant Chief Leon Hurlburt and Mayor Richard Strick. Second Picture: City Clerk-Treasurer Christi McElhaney administers the Oath of Office to Lieutenant Adam Close while his sons, Charlie and Sam, look on.

HUNTINGTON – The Huntington Fire Department continues to refine its ability to protect the community, promoting a long-serving firefighter to a higher rank and adding two new hires to bring the department up to 38 full-time firefighters.

Adam Close’s promotion to lieutenant was made official during a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday morning at the Huntington City Building. He has been a Huntington firefighter for 17 years.

“He has always embraced the leadership role in the firehouse while mentoring new firefighters and sharing his years of knowledge and experience,” Fire Chief Tony Johnson said Tuesday. “Adam is well-respected and trusted by his fellow firefighters and is always willing to step up and complete a task when asked, and he was a big part in ordering and putting our newest engine into service. I am looking forward to Adam taking on this new role and responsibilities in the department.”

Ashton McCune and Austin Eltzroth also were sworn in as Huntington’s newest firefighters during Tuesday’s ceremony. In May, they will begin the Fort Wayne Fire Department’s 22-week training academy to earn their state firefighting and emergency medical technician certifications.

“It takes a special person to run into a burning building to protect their neighbors,” Mayor Richard Strick said. “We are grateful for their willingness to bear that burden and recognize the family members that bear it with them.”

McCune is a familiar face to many in the community, having spent six years helping coach wrestling at Huntington North High School and another two years as a middle school coach. He has one daughter with his wife, Rebecca.

Eltzroth is a graduate of Huntington North, where he played baseball. He has worked in construction and runs a small lawn care company. He and his wife, MacKenzie, are expecting their first child.

McCune’s and Eltzroth’s addition to the Huntington Fire Department concludes a hiring process that began over a year ago.

“We started accepting applications back in January of last year with the help of the hiring board,” Chief Johnson said. “We narrowed that process down and chose Ashton and Austin. We had some very good applicants, but in the end these two stood out.”

In addition to expanding its number of firefighters, the Huntington Fire Department recently has made other key investments in public safety.

The department put a new fire engine into service in October of 2021. It contains modern equipment and tools that could not be equipped on the 30-year-old reserve truck it replaced.

A second new fire engine has been ordered, and its expected delivery is in 2024.

The Fire Department also rolled out new radio equipment and a thermal imaging unit with enhanced capabilities in 2021. These investments were made using available grant money from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Public Employer’s Plan safety division.

Another round of applications is currently being accepted through May 3. Click here for more details.