“When we look back on 2025, we won’t just remember it as another year on the calendar; we’ll remember it as a turning point, a year defined by momentum, a year defined by growth and a year that proved what this department is capable of when dedication meets opportunity,” Cumo said.

One of the biggest accomplishments for the fire department in 2025 was being awarded the SAFER Grant, which will allow for four more firefighters. The department has tried for years to get this grant.

One firefighter was sworn on Jan. 5, and three more will be sworn in on Jan. 16, bringing the fire department to its highest level of staffing in over 20 years. This will give the department 19 members including the chief. It will allow them to have six firefighters on duty each shift, putting the staffing level at a national standard.

The department has also been actively getting its fire inspection bureau back up, which allowed them to conduct 80 fire safety inspections in 2025.

They have also doubled their training with 4,186-man hours of training.

“This doesn’t happen by accident,” Cumo said. “This happens because of the commitment, professionalism and pride in wearing this patch.”

Firefighters completed the following training: firefighters I and II, rope rescue, hazardous material, technician, life safety education, advanced fire investigation, rail car operations, and fire inspector. Two firefighters begin medic training this month, and a firefighter will be doing fire I training.

Additionally, the department made history in 2025 with the swearing in of the first female firefighter in the department’s 130-year history with the May 12, 2025 swearing in of firefighter Brittany Hill.

“This milestone speaks to where the fire service is headed and the strength that diversity brings to our ranks,” Cumo said.

There were some staffing changes in the department in 2025 with the retirement of Assistant Fire Chief Eric Croxall, which resulted in the promotions of Aaron Jones to assistant fire chief and Alex Estell to lieutenant.

Cumo said that the promotions reinforces leadership from within and ensures the department remains strong at each level.

Cumo noted that now that he has staffing issues resolved, he now needs to work on more equipment for the department.

The department recently had Medic 2 remounted and placed back into service, and purchased new protective gear, portable radios and thermal imaging cameras.

The department responded to 1,936 calls in 2025.

“That’s 1,936 moments when someone in our community needed help and we showed up,” Cumo said.

The department had an average response time of 5.45 minutes and an average call volume of 5.1 calls per day.

Calls responded to included 20 structure fires, seven stove fires, eight motor vehicle fires, five dumpster fires, 48 opening burning calls, 1,415 EMS calls, 51 motor vehicle accidents, 28 false alarms, 20 calls for downed lines and 333 miscellaneous/good intent calls.

The department received $963,371 in grants in 2025, which is a $748,396 increase over the $214,975 they received in grants for 2024.

Grants received in 2025 included $14,492 for new radios, $11,679 for protective gear, an $8,200 Fire Marshal Grant and the SAFER Grant for $929,000.

In early 2026, the East Liverpool Fire Department will become the primary EMS provider for Liverpool Township.

“We have been working well with the township over the years, and our relationship is just getting better and better,” Cumo said.

Cumo noted that he recently put together a five-year strategic plan on things they need and things they need to work on for the department, and with getting the SAFER grant and having an ambulance remounted he has just about already completed the goals in that plan.

The department is working on getting quotes for the construction of a structure near the city’s salt barn/car barn for the storage of their haz-mat gear.

Cumo noted that he has no doubt that with the continued support of the city’s administration and the community and the dedication of the fire department members that the department is building something special and he wants to see them take the accomplishments from 2025 and use them as the foundation for the building the strongest department the city has ever known.

“As we look ahead to 2026, one thing is clear: with progress comes change and with change comes responsibility,” Cumo said. “New firefighters are coming through our doors. They will be watching us; not just for how to stretch a line or throw a ladder, but for how to lead, how to act and how to carry themselves. They will learn from us what the standard is, what right looks like and what it means to serve this city. The future of the East Liverpool Fire Department is not years away; it’s here, right now and it’s on every one of us to rise to that responsibility.”