VIDEO: Clearwater Fire Rescue has a new fire chief with an extensive background. Chief Chad Pittman has dedicated 35 years to serving the Tampa Bay Area and is on day three with Clearwater Fire. He said his overall goal is to serve the community to the best of his ability. Pittman’s career started out in 1990 and, through the years, he has served in East Lake, Palm Harbor, and Largo. His brand-new home is Station 45 in Clearwater. “A little surreal, a lot to take on, but I’m excited and I have been greeted very warmly throughout the city and the fire department,” he said. The veteran firefighter is a lifetime resident of Pinellas County.
“The growth of the county during my 35 years has been substantial. Then, the way we approach fires and emergency medical calls also has evolved tremendously and continues to evolve to meet the needs of our community,” Pittman said. Clearwater Fire is a very busy department with over 31,000 calls each year. Pittman said his goal is to come in and listen to the men and women that have been saving lives in the area. “Take what I learn to create a path forward for Clearwater Fire Rescue. I don’t come in with a rigid agenda of what I’m going to do and how it’s going to be done. I’m going to listen first and then using the team approach, make a plan moving forward,” he said.
With a $39 million budget and 224 personnel underneath him, the chief said he is trying to figure out what the needs of the department are. “That’s part of my first few weeks here is to try and figure out what direction the city is taking and how we support that direction from the fire department as far as personnel, equipment, and resources,” Pittman said. He said the main difference between Clearwater and his previous stations are the beach fire stations. All in all, the new chief said serving with Clearwater Fire is the honor of a lifetime.
