Detroit Fire Department honors 10 members celebrating 35 years of service

• One-quarter of this graduating class remains on active duty, continuing a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and service
• June 17, 1991, was the group's first day at the Detroit Fire Training Academy
• Detroit Fire Chief of Department, David Nelson, among those honored

The Detroit Fire Department today honored 10 members who have each dedicated 35 years of service to the City of Detroit, a remarkable milestone made even more extraordinary by the fact that all 10 members graduated together from the Department's academy class in June of 1991 and remain actively serving in Fire Operations today.

The group represents 25 percent of their graduating class, an exceptionally rare achievement in the fire service. Together, they have accumulated 350 years of service to the residents of Detroit while rising through the ranks to become some of the Department's most respected leaders.

Among those honored were Detroit Fire Chief of Department, David Nelson, Senior Chief Leo Spitzig, Senior Chief Reginald Harper, six Battalion Chiefs, and one Captain. Each member was presented with a framed certificate commemorating their 35 years of service. The Department is also commissioning a special challenge coin to honor the group's unprecedented milestone.

"Detroit residents are beyond fortunate these 10 men chose a career of public service and have devoted much of their adult lives to protecting this city," said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. "What makes this milestone even more meaningful is that they continue making that choice every single day. Their experience, professionalism, and commitment to excellence are helping shape the future of the Detroit Fire Department as they pass along their knowledge, skills, and work ethic to the next generation of firefighters. Their impact extends far beyond the calls they have answered-it lives on in every firefighter they have mentored and every citizen they have served."

During today's event, held at Engine 17, Commissioner Simms distributed framed certificates marking 35 years of service to the City of Detroit and the Detroit Fire Department.

During his remarks, Commissioner Simms told those present how lucky Detroit is to have such a great amount of experience leading the way and helping mold future generations of Detroit firefighters.

Heroes' Reflections

When they joined the Detroit Fire Department in 1991, Detroit was a very different city. The Department routinely responded to some of the highest fire volumes in the nation, and the city itself would face significant challenges in the decades that followed.Through it all, these members remained committed to their profession and to serving the residents.

Detroit Fire Chief of Department, David Nelson, was a young father who needed a stable career to support his family. He was called to serve his community and found his home at the Detroit Fire Department. "Thirty-five years ago, as a young firefighter just starting my career, I never could have imagined that one day I would have the privilege of leading this department," said Nelson. At the time Nelson began at DFD, becoming Chief would not have been possible because of the structure of the department, but that changed. "I was a Sergeant when I learned that I could one day lead this department. Being Chief became my goal, and I worked towards that goal every day." Nelson considers himself a lifelong learner and is currently working on his Master of Business Administration. "It is an incredible honor to serve alongside the men in this room-men who started this journey as my classmates and have become lifelong friends. They still give me a hard time, just like they did back then, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We've grown together, learned together, and dedicated our careers to making this department stronger than we found it."

Chief of Department, David Nelson, laughing with his classmates.

Battalion Chief Jeffrey Urbas reflected on the changes both the city and the department have experienced since the class first entered the academy. At 19, Urbas was looking for a career that got him away from a desk and decided to go into public service. Our residents are lucky that DFD was hiring when he was looking for work. "The Detroit of 1991 is not the Detroit of today," said Urbas. "This group has been here through all of it. We experienced the years when responding to several fires a day was the norm. We worked through difficult budget cuts and the City's bankruptcy. We saw neighborhoods struggle, and we've had the privilege of watching many of them come back. Today, from my office inside Engine 17 on Second Avenue, I can look out and see the Detroit skyline growing and changing almost every day, and that's a view I never get tired of. We've been fortunate to witness Detroit's resurgence firsthand, and it's been an honor to play a small part in helping keep this city safe throughout that journey." Urbas has used the time away from the firehouse over the years to pursue other careers, such as roofing, insurance and even restauranteur.

Unable to attend Wednesday's event, Battalion Chief Jeffrey Urbas took time to chat and provide some reflection on his 35 years at DFD.

The work has also changed over the years. In 2016, all Detroit Firefighters were trained as Medical First Responders, to help improve patient outcomes citywide. In 2021, the DFD became a merged-role department, meaning any new hires would be trained and certified not only as Firefighters, but also as Emergency Medical Technicians. These shifts have allowed the Detroit Fire Department to boast one of the best Code 1 medical response times in the country and have resulted in more patients surviving critical incidents than ever before in the city. Change is never easy, though, and this group has persevered. Several of these members, though not required to, have attained their EMT licenses and are now leading the next generation towards their own continued success.

Senior Chief Reginald Harper talked about what it's been like to grow up in Detroit and now to have served the city he loves for 35 years.

Battalion Chief Samuel Vazquez listens as Battalion Chief Pheng Kue talks about what it means to him to be a Detroit Firefighter. Kue said he never thought being a firefighter was something he could do, but once he started, he knew it was a perfect fit.

Brothers, Battalion Chief Christian Spitzig and Senior Chief Leo Spitzig, listen as their classmates share memories of starting out as a Detroit Firefighter.

Thanking those who gave everything

Today also served as an opportunity to remember three members of the class who are no longer with us: Roland Waters, Dwayne Garland, and Christopher Orzech.

Both Waters and Garland are recognized as Line of Duty Deaths. Trial Firefighter Waters was killed on June 15, 1992, just one day before he was scheduled to receive his firefighter badge at the completion of his probationary period. The 28-year-old father of two was responding to a residential arson when the burning structure collapsed. Chief Nelson was on the scene the day Waters died and remembers it vividly. He says Waters loved the fire service and was proud to serve the people of Detroit. Waters was laid to rest at Elmwood Cemetery in the historic Firemen's Fund lot, where generations of Detroit firefighters have been buried since 1866.

Firefighter Garland became severely ill after inhaling toxic fumes while fighting a fire and died just a few months later. His death is a tragic reminder of the sometimes-hidden dangers of this very dangerous profession.

As the Department celebrated the achievements of those still serving, leaders noted that the legacy of the Class of 1991 includes not only those who continue answering the call today, but also those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those whose contributions helped shape the Detroit Fire Department into the organization it is today.

Honorees Celebrating 35 Years of Service in June 2026:

• Chief of Department David L. Nelson
• Senior Chief Reginald D. Harper
• Senior Chief Leo A. Spitzig
• Battalion Chief Anthony J. Delibera
• Battalion Chief Pheng Kue
• Battalion Chief Christian J. Spitzig
• Battalion Chief Bernard P. Storm
• Battalion Chief Jeffrey D. Urbas
• Battalion Chief Samuel Vazquez, Jr.
• Captain Walter C. Walker

Chief Nelson's advice for those now starting their careers at the Detroit Fire Department, "Take full advantage oof this wonderful career, which provides so many opportunities for you to reach your full potential - whether that is with your family, financially, or doing whatever else it is you want to do outside the DFD," he said. "This career provides you the time to rest and recover from the stress of the work and to work towards fulfilling your wildest dreams, whatever those may be." Nelson, having found himself with extra time as a young firefighter, went to barber school. Just a few short years later, he saved up the money he earned, bought a building in Detroit, and opened his own barber shop, which he still proudly owns today.

Of important note, there are four members of the Detroit Fire Department who have already reached this 35-year milestone, an incredible achievement:

• April 24, 1989: Battalion Chief Paul T. Sanders
• May 30, 1989: Battalion Chief Anthony Angleucci
• March 11, 1991: Senior Chief Craig A. Binder and Battalion Chief Joseph Berrelez

The Detroit Fire Department thanks these members for their continued commitment and service to the City of Detroit and looks forward to celebrating more anniversaries with this incredibly talented group.