Fishers Fire Chief Steven Orusa has been elected as President of the Indiana State Fire Chiefs Association.
Since its inception in 1926, the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) has worked to promote excellence in Indiana's fire and emergency services to improve fire prevention and protection across the state. Chief Orusa previously served on the Association’s Executive Board as Indiana Department for Homeland Security Liaison, PAC Chairman, and first Vice-President. He is also a past president of the Hamilton County Fire Chiefs Association.
“Our communities need us in ways they never have before,” said Chief Orusa. “While we serve in challenging and unprecedented times, we also have opportunities to create new partnerships and sustainability. To do so will require our resilience, perseverance, and change becoming an institutional value. We’ll provide leadership and resource support to fire and emergency service leaders by leveraging the wisdom and experience of tradition with the creativity and collaboration required of the 21st century.”
Chief Orusa has worked in law enforcement and fire service positions for 35 years. He joined the Fishers Fire Department in May 2011, and over the past nine years has been involved with City projects including the Stigma Free Fishers mental health initiative, transitioning the department to include emergency services, the community paramedicine program, and the new Fishers Health Department.
Prior to his position as Fishers Fire Chief, Chief Orusa was the Deputy Fire Chief of Operations, US&R Planning Section Chief, and Deputy Operations Section Chief for Super Bowl XLVI; Incident Commander for the Henryville Tornado; Technical Review Consultant for NIOSH Line of Duty Death investigations; and Program Manager for the Indiana District-5 Type III Incident Management Team. He also worked as Director of the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists Response Team and has participated in public safety and military dive operations worldwide.
Chief Orusa has also served on non-profit boards including the City of Fishers Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), Hamilton County Humane Society, Leslie Anne Hulse Foundation (Human Trafficking), and the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS) Board of Directors.
Learn more about the Fishers Fire Department at www.fishers.in.us/Fire.