Danbury Acting Fire Chief Mark Omasta Retires After 36 Years

The Danbury Fire Department and the City of Danbury would like to congratulate and thank Acting Fire Chief Mark Omasta on his final day as Acting Chief of the Danbury Fire Department.
 
Acting Chief Omasta began his firefighting career as a Volunteer Fire Firefighter with Citizens Hose Co 6 , Inc. in 1984. He then went on to be a career firefighter with the Town of Wilton Fire Department.
 
Mark returned to Danbury as a firefighter when he was appointed to the Danbury Fire Department in 1985.
 
Throughout his career in Danbury, Chief Omasta worked as a firefighter at all stations, on the Department ambulances as an EMT-IV, and as an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter. He held the ranks of Lieutenant (1999), EMS Coordinator, Training Officer (2007), Assistant Fire Chief (2014) and he has been the Acting Fire Chief since the retirement of Chief Wiedl in June of 2020. Additional accomplishments include graduating from Naugatuck Valley Community College with an Associate’s degree in Fire Technology and Administration and SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
 
Mark was also a union officer with Danbury Professional Fire Fighters, Local 801, IAFF for many years and his work in that arena also contributed to the health and safety of Danbury’ Firefighters and helped shape the department you see today.
 
Chief Omasta’s efforts have greatly contributed to making the City of Danbury safer and advancing the mission of the fire service. Chief Omasta was recognized and named as the National Fire Safety Officer of the Year in 2012. He was instrumental in the building of our new state of the art fire training facility, the rehabilitation of our burn building, storage addition at Engine 26, Headquarters and Engine 23 fitness area addition, our firefighter fitness program, and many new pieces of apparatus and equipment just to name a few.
 
On top of all of this, Acting Chief Omasta has led this department through the most difficult of times dealing with the current pandemic with his extraordinary leadership. He has worked non-stop to keep all of our responders and the community safe and healthy.
 
Mark is looking forward to spending his free time with his wife Valory, their daughter Kristen and their granddaughter Ava. His passions of skiing, golf, and flying the plane he owns with Chief Wiedl, will ensure that he continues to have active days.
 
The Department wants to say thank you to Chief Omasta, for your service – may the skies be always blue and the fairways lush and green.
 
Learn more and view photos on Danbury Fire Department's Facebook Page here.
 
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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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