For the first time in 10 years, a Prince George’s County firefighter has been elected president of the Eastern Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Pete Mellits, a volunteer firefighter for the city of Bowie for 25 years, was elected and installed as president at
the 85th Annual Conference of the EDIAFC on June 1 in Trevose, Pa., and was the only chief from Maryland to be elected to a major position.
Mellits said among his chief priorities as president is strengthening the unity between the volunteer and career firefighters.
“When you have a combination fire department with career and volunteer, the bond between the two is something that needs to be strong,” Mellits said. “When government agencies can’t hire the number of firefighters they would like, it’s usually supplemented by the volunteers. A good network of people is what I’m hoping to promote.”
Mellits has held many positions with the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, including chief, deputy chief and, currently, fire marshal. Of his 25 years of volunteer service, he has spent 17 years as a chief officer.
“Having a member of our department ascend to the top spot in such a prestigious group speaks volumes about Pete and the entire Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department,” said Prince George’s Fire and EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady.
Mellits also previously served as the IAFC’s state director in Maryland for five years, second vice-president for one year and first vice-president for one year. Once someone is elected to the board, Mellits said, members are rotated through the positions.
“Essentially, it’s a nine-year commitment,” Mellits said.
The Eastern Division of IAFC represents Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and D.C. Mellits hopes to continue to uphold the IAFC mission of promoting firefighter health and safety, fire standards, and recruitment and retention issues. The IAFC also occasionally works with labor and union concerns.
Mellits has personally worked on the 700 Band Plan, which was initiated after the communication fallout between enforcement departments dealing with Hurricane Katrina.
