The Latir Volunteer Fire Department took to social media to share big news—jona olsson has stepped down after an impressive 25 years of service as the Chief of the Fire and EMS divisions, and Sunshine Valley resident Tyler Eshelman is replacing her in this capacity. Eshelman has been assuming this role since January of this year.

The release notes that olsson joined the department in 1999 and since, has strived to raise the bar in training, performance, and professional development. Alone, olsson has reportedly responded to 1,050 calls for service, demonstrating to the community first-hand her high level of experience, care, and dedication.

Her dedication to improving the resilience of the community has made a difference. She has effectively trained the fire department personnel to respond to house fires, wildland fires, calls for medical service, and motor vehicle crashes.

Eshelmann has big shoes to fill, but he appears up to the task, as the department shared in social media posts, “Tyler is a natural leader. His executive perspectives, collaborative approach, and diverse skill set beautifully support the hands-on needs of our community. Tyler has immersed himself in the latest firefighting practices and administration and he has already made visible strides in recruitment, organization, station improvements, and fleet preparedness, as well as cohesive response with neighboring districts. We look forward to experiencing more of the energy and dynamism that Tyler brings to LVFD, as we proudly celebrate our 40 years of service to the El Rito, Sunshine, Latir, and surrounding communities.”

The department intends to celebrate all of the contributions olsson has made to the community in the coming months with a formal celebration event. Stay tuned to their social media at facebook.com/latirvfd for announcements.