RICK PFEIFFER
Niagara Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
(TNS)
NORTH TONAWANDA — It’s the job that Doug Orlowski has trained for, waited for and says he’s more than ready for.
Having hired and trained roughly 60% of the North Tonawanda Fire Department’s current roster of firefighters, Orlowski, as the newly installed chief of the department is excited to get to work.
“This is the department that I helped (former) Chief (Joe) Sikora build, so it’s pretty exciting,” Orlowski said. “It was time. I’m ready to do it.”
Orlowski has been with the NTFD for almost 24 years. Before that, his older brother, Robert, had convinced him to join the Adams Volunteer Fire Company.
“It wasn’t until I became a volunteer that I knew I wanted to be a firefighter,” Orlowski said. “I thought this is awesome. This is what I want to do.”
Before being hired in North Tonawanda, Orlowski became a paramedic with Twin City Ambulance. When he joined the NTFD in July 2001, Robert followed him there.
“My brother is seven years older than me,” Orlowski said. “And when I first became a captain he was assigned to the same vehicle as me. That was a little awkward.”
Robert retired in 2024, but his younger sibling continued his climb up the ranks. Starting off as a line firefighter, Orlowski worked on the department’s rescue truck, becoming a captain in 2011 and then the NTFD assistant chief in 2014.
He was also the department’s training officer for six years.
“I’ve done it all except fire prevention,” Orlowski said with a chuckle. “I’ve held every rank, but not every job.”
Orlowski believes his broad range of experience in the department will help him continue to push the NTFD forward into new technologies and methods of firefighting. He noted that something as simple as increasing the size of the hose carried on the engines can result in an enhanced ability to fight the flames of a fire.
“With our new vehicles, the technology in them is insane,” he said. “And our thermal imaging has advanced so now the first guy into a fire has the thermal image right on his face mask.”
Funding permitting, Orlowski said he’d like to grow the number of full-time paid firefighters in the department. He’s also hoping to assist the volunteer fire companies that provide support to his department with assistance in recruitment.
“I’m hoping to be progressive, to make us safer and more efficient going forward,” Orlowski said.
The new fire chief also said he is hoping to work on “digitizing” the department’s central office.
As he takes command of the NTFD, Orlowski said reflecting back on his career just confirms the life choices he’s made.
“One hundred percent, being a firefighter is the best job in the world,” he said. “It’s rewarding, you’re helping people. You have a different environment every day. It’s an exciting career.”
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