Roland Talifarro is quite nervous.
When the 13-year-old walks into East Lansing High School this fall, he will be a new face in town - just like his dad, who’s the new face at the East Lansing Fire Department.
Roland’s father, Randy Talifarro, was inducted into his new post as East Lansing’s fire chief this week, following 17 years of service with the Flint Fire Department.
“I’m the only one in my family that’s nervous,” Roland said. “I don’t want to leave my friends.
“I know my dad will do a good job.”
Talifarro, 40, left his position as assistant fire chief in Flint to run East Lansing’s 50-member fire department.
His wife of 21 years, Ramona, and youngest son, Roland, will relocate to East Lansing in the fall. His oldest son, Ramone, is away at Eastern Michigan University.
Talifarro himself is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint, and served as president of the Flint School Board from 1998 to 2001.
While Talifarro admits there are fewer emergency runs made in East Lansing than in Flint, where there are seven departments and 225 staff members, his workload hasn’t changed much.
“I’ve just been getting familiar with the management systems, the operational policies and just the logistical things,” he said.
“The time of the appointment has placed me right in the midst of the budget and obviously the NCAA Tournament preparations. I’ve kind of hit the ground running with those events.”
Talifarro will be paid $79,000 a year to work with Emergency Medical Service, hazardous materials, fire suppression, fire prevention and training.
“I think that you have a big emphasis on training here, which is good,” he said. “The actual potential for a problem here is pretty significant with the university and the large population in a small area.”
The search for a new fire chief began in July, when former Chief Phillip Vorlander retired to his hometown of Madison, Wisc. Vorlander had been with the fire department for three years. The six-month search brought in 50 candidates, seven of whom were interviewed.
Former interim Chief Steven Hildenbrand took over Vorlander’s duties until a new leader could be found. He retired early this month after 30 years with the department, and is kicking off his retirement with a six-week fishing trip in Florida.
Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said Talifarro already has met with all three working shifts, and has been well received.
Two of the most important features firefighters were looking for in a chief were honesty and integrity, Pratt said. The firefighters also wanted a person who would make a commitment to the city.
East Lansing has had six people fill the position of fire chief in the last six years.
“We’re really hoping that Chief Talifarro will stay around and offer some stability and consistency,” Pratt said. “It’s a much bigger responsibility. The buck stops with him now. So far, we really like what we see. I think we’re all very optimistic.”
