2 firefighters hired at Medina Fire Department while 1 resigns

MFD, pared back from 21 to 17 full-time, needs to fill fire chief vacancy

Photo courtesy of Medina Fire Department: The Medina Fire Department welcomed Mackenzie Rider-Work, left, and Brian Bates as probationary firefighters. They were hired at Monday’s Village Board meeting.

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department has two new full-time members after they were hired at Monday’s Village Board meeting.

Brian Bates and Mackenzie Rider-Work both are joining the department, while it loses Andrew Steel, a full-time firefighter the past three years whose resignation effective July 31 was accepted by the board on Monday.

Steel’s departure follows the resignations last month of fire chief Matt Jackson and firefighters Tiffany Petry and Dylan Schreader. Captain Jonathan Higgins also retired.

The department was at 20 full-time members and a fire chief, but was pared down to 16 firefighters and a chief.

Once the fire chief position is filled, the Medina FD would need to fill one more position if the fire chief is promoted from within the department.

Bates joins Medina, coming from the Hilton Fire Department and Monroe Ambulance. He has completed the fire academy and is waiting to take the paramedic test.

Rider-Work comes from the Clarence Fire Department. He is an EMT-B and a state fire instructor assigned to Erie County.

“Brian will be assigned to the 4th Platoon and Mackenzie will join the 2nd Platoon once they complete the onboarding process,” stated the Medina professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2161. “They are both a welcome addition to the team but we still face a long road to return to being considered fully staffed.  We are still awaiting the promotion of a new fire chief to lead our department.”