New Port Richey announced Christopher Fitch as the city’s new fire chief Friday afternoon. Fitch comes to the city after 23 years with the Fort Wayne Fire Department in Indiana. Fitch has served there for the last three years as Battalion Chief. Fitch will start with the city on July 1.

Fitch will oversee a department staffed by 30 professional firefighters and with an annual budget of $2,464,150 for 2014-2015. The position currently lists an annual salary of $84,720.

Fitch replaces outgoing New Port Richey Chief Alex Onishenko who announced his retirement in February.

Read the full statement from the City of New Port Richey:

The City of New Port Richey is proud to announce the addition of its new Fire Chief, Christopher Fitch.  Driven by a passion for providing public safety to communities, Chief Fitch brings over twenty-seven years experience to the position of Fire Chief for the City of New Port Richey.  Chief Fitch, a second generation firefighter, is a twenty-three year veteran of the Fort Wayne Fire Department in Fort Wayne, Indiana and has served as a Battalion Chief for the last three years.  Through his years of dedicated service to the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Chief Fitch rose through the ranks in the operations division, was a member of the water rescue team, flashover instructor, fire academy instructor and has served on several boards and committees including the Fort Wayne Firefighters Union and the Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum.  Chief Fitch received his Associate Degree in Fire Science from Ivy Tech Community College, attended the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland for Incident Command and Incident Safety Officer and holds a Florida Firefighter certification along with several other fire safety certifications.  In addition to his list of many accomplishments, Chief Fitch also has previously taught fire science courses at Ivy Tech Community College.  A tentative start date with the City of July 1, 2015 has been set.