Fire Department leadership

Here are some of the top Detroit Fire Department officials . They hire firefighters, purchase trucks and are responsible for the daily operations of the department.

Richard Stein

Chief executive of public safety

* Stein reports directly to Mayor Dennis Archer and is responsible for the city’s police and fire departments. He began his career as a firefighter and has served various leadership positions within the Fire Department.

Before his present job, Stein was deputy commissioner of the department in charge of its budget, which then totaled $130 million.

Charles Wilson

Fire Commissioner

* Wilson was appointed by Archer in January, though he has no background in firefighting.

He holds a second job as commander of the 98th Division of the U.S. Army Reserve, based in Rochester, New York.

Before becoming commissioner, Wilson was deputy chief in the Detroit Police Department.

Tyrone Scott

Deputy commissioner

* Scott was appointed by Wilson this summer. Before that he was a fire engine driver at the station that houses Engine 5 at Cass and West Alexandrine. Now he is second in command at the Fire Department. Prior to becoming a driver, he was chief of Royal Oak Township’s fire department until December.

Niles Sexton

General manager

* Sexton oversees the department’s hazardous materials unit, created to handle toxic spills and emissions. But despite a series of attempts over 11 years to get the unit fully operational, it still lacks the required federal certification to perform its most basic tasks.

Ivan Ozment

Chief of apparatus

* Ozment runs the repair shop which is responsible for maintaining all of the department’s fire engines, ladder trucks and ambulances.

In the city’s most recent annual report, Ozment stated that the city had eight ladder trucks in reserve. In fact, the city has no working ladder trucks in reserve, and on any given day five to 11 of Detroit’s front-line ladder trucks do not work.

William Jones

Chief of training

* For six years, Jones has supervised the department’s training academy. The academy lacks basic equipment, is housed in a dilapidated building and has failed to provide annual follow-up training for firefighters in the handling of hazardous materials. The academy doesn’t provide trainees with the experience of putting out live fires.

Percy L. Warmack

Chief of department

* Warmack is the highest-ranking uniformed firefighter. He was appointed to the position in July by Wilson.

Warmack remains in the firefighters’ union, is responsible for all fire operations and represents firefighters before the fire administration. He can make recommendations on equipment and personnel, but has no authority to purchase trucks or hire firefighters.

Contact the reporters at churt@detnews.com and mclaxton@detnews.com.