Fire Chief Ed Mezulis
Chief Ed Mezulis has been with the Sedona Fire District since 2000. Starting as a Firefighter/EMT he moved up the ranks assuming the position of Fire Chief in September of 2022. Prior to SFD he served in the United States Navy and worked for the U.S Forest Service.
Chief Mezulis is committed to life-long learning and currently holds an Associate’s in Fire Science, a Bachelor’s in Leadership, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. When not at the station, he is busy raising his three children, Aiden, Abby, and Ava. None of this would be possible without his wife of 20 years, Kristen.
Leadership & Staff
The Executive Team includes the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Division Chief of Training and Development, Division Chief of Integrated Systems and Readiness, Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction, and Director of Finance.
The Command Staff consists of three Battalion Chiefs, overseeing three shifts, with daily staffing of 27 operational personnel.
Operational Support Services:
- Administrative Services: Reception, Accounting, Administrative Assistants
- Human Resources: Payroll & Benefits, Personnel Resources
- Telecommunications Division: Radio Technicians, IT Systems User Support
- Community Risk Reduction: Fire Inspectors, Deputy Fire Marshal
- Training & Development: Training, Safety & Compliance, Wellness
- Integrated Systems & Readiness: Fleet, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Administrative Services
This team provides support to operations, leadership, and the Board, serving behind the scenes for the clerical, customer service, and financial needs of the organization managing broad areas such as uniform management, contract and grant oversight, insurance, and compliance.
Finance
The Director of Finance role is serviced by a contracted firm handling accounting functions, budgeting preparation and oversight, and revenue projections. All financial matters are managed along with SFD staff and presented monthly to the Board for approval. An external audit is conducted by an independent firm annually to ensure adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), fiscal responsibility, and transparency.
Fleet Services
SFD has a complete automotive shop with a certified heavy equipment mechanic, partnering with local businesses for routine maintenance, to keep ambulances, fire apparatus, and command vehicles running safely and efficiently.
Human Resources
Managing all of the personnel-related needs of SFD, Human Resources (HR) is actively involved in recruitment and retention, retirement planning, and policy as well as payroll & benefits administration, performance management, and culture.
Telecommunications & GIS
The Telecommunications Division administers the telephone, information technology (IT), radio, and mobile data systems of the District to provide the communications needs throughout the region. Station alerting, apparatus radios, wireless communications, and the Cottonwood dispatch center are also supported. In conjunction, the geographic information systems (GIS) Analyst updates the maps used by operational personnel as data is received for new subdivisions, developments, trailheads, and other projects.
