Fort Lee Fire Department Chiefs, Officers Sworn in Thursday

MarK Sulcov officially took over as Fort Lee Fire Chief on Jan. 1, when William Chippane became Deputy Fire Chief and Chris Ipek became Battalion Chief of the Fort Lee Fire Department. All three were officially sworn in and took the oaths of office Thursday—along with First and Second Lieutenants and Captains of the borough’s all-volunteer fire department—at a special ceremony at Borough Hall before the regular meeting of the Fort Lee Mayor and Council.

Sulcov replaces 2012 Fire Chief Keith Sabatino, who in his outgoing speech reported to the audience that the department answered 1,536 calls last year--these calls included seven working fires and two major extrications. In addition to fire calls, the department responded to two repel calls on the Palisades Cliffs, was on stand-by for both the NY/NJ Iron Man Triathlon and Hurricane Sandy--logging over 5000 hours. 

In talking about the dedication of the men and women of the Fire Department during Hurricane Sandy, Sabatino informed the residents of Fort Lee, “During that time of emergency--a town with no power, no heat--we left our own families in the cold and dark to keep your families safe.”

Striking a more personal tone, Sabatino thanked "the Brotherhood of the Fire Department" for putting him up for Chief last year, and the entire fire department for supporting him throughout 2012.

“No matter what call or incident we are asked to respond to--whether car fire or house fire, extrication or repel--when we arrive we are not just firefighters--we're the face of Fort Lee,” Sabatino said.

Below is a list of all the 2013 Fort Lee Fire Department Chiefs sworn in Thursday:

Chiefs

Keith Sabatino, Chief, Co. #2; Mark Sulcov, Chief, Co. #3; William Chippane, Deputy Chief, Co.#4; Chris Ipek Battalion Chief Co.#1.