The Burbank Fire Department held a badge pinning ceremony recently to promote three of their members in rank. Eric Garcia was promoted to the position of Battalion Chief, Grant Stephens was promoted to Fire Captain, and Steve Mielkus was promoted to Fire Engineer.
Family and friends gathered along with oncoming firefighters and city staff to welcome the new promotes.
City Councilman Gary Bric, who witnessed Burbank Firefighters at work the previous night during a fire at a neighbor’s house, praised all the fire fighters for everything they do including extinguishing flames before lapping into his attic.
Fire Chief Ray Krakowski gave each man’s accomplishments and promotional date of when they were hired and promoted up the rungs of the ladder.
Eric Garcia became a Burbank Firefighter on February 16, 1994 after a year of probation he became a permanent firefighter February 16, 1995, went from Firefighter to Paramedic on April 1999, then became a provincial Fire Engineer in January 16, 2006, and then a probationary Engineer a year later, Garcia moved on to become a Fire Captain January 16, 2008, and as of July 22, 2012 he is now a probational Battalion Fire Chief in charge of the B Platoon.
Grant Stephens has become a new Fire Captain, Stephens became a Burbank Firefighter November 15, 1999 and after year of probation he became a permanent Firefighter October 2000, Stephens promoted to Fire Engineer in January 2012, and he was promoted to Fire Captain May 2012, and now a probational Captain for a year.
Steve Mielkus became a Burbank Firefighter November 1999, and following a year of probation became a permanent Firefighter November 2000, Mielkus promoted to a provisional Fire Engineer February 2007, returned to a Firefighter status because of manpower and now a probational Fire Engineer as of July 2012.
