New Syracuse fire chief named; gets standing ovation

SYRACUSE — Forty-eight hours removed from a political delay that prompted the resignation of the acting fire chief, the city council has appointed a new fire chief.

Eric Froerer was unanimously appointed as the chief of the community’s 26-person fire department Thursday night in a special meeting that drew almost 30 minutes of citizen comments in support of the new chief and of public safety services in the community.

The crowd broke out in applause and a standing ovation when the appointment was ratified.

“I’m excited to get going. We have a lot of good things to do,” Froerer said. He is expected to be on the job today.

Froerer brings 22 years of firefighting experience to the post, including a number of years as an assistant chief in Roy. Fire chiefs from both Weber and Davis counties spoke in his behalf during the public comment portion of the meeting, before the vote on the only item on the agenda.

Froerer replaces Craig Cottrell, who resigned last year, citing health reasons, on the same day drug charges were filed against him.