- April 19, 2024
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Captain Michael Marstaller arrives with his family at City Commission chambers Oct. 3 where he was honored with a proclamation upon his retirement. He is shown with his wife, Maria, and son, Chris. He has another son, Matthew. Photo by Wayne Grant
Michael Marstaller is going to miss his “second family” at the Ormond Beach Fire Department now that he has retired as Captain after 29 years with the city.
He has no definite plans for retirement, but his wife, Maria had one suggestion.
“He’s going to catch up on sleep,” she said before the Oct. 3 City Commission meeting where he was honored with a proclamation for his service.
Memories that stand out for Marstaller include the wild fires of 1998 and the hurricanes of 2004. During the fires, he was on duty for four days in a row.
“We slept in the truck,” he said.
When hurricanes threaten, all firefighters stay at the firehouse from the time an emergency is declared until it’s over.
Marstaller started in Public Works at the city and transferred to the fire department after three years. He was promoted to captain in 1998.
“It’s been a pleasure to serve the community,” Marstaller said at the meeting. “You have a lot of dedicated people in the department.”
Mayor Ed Kelley said firefighting is one of the most hazardous professions and is a vital public service.
In the comment period at the Oct. 3 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Troy Kent announced one of this priorities in his next term, to make what he sees as needed improvement in ambulance service in the city.
Kent believes there is too much waittime and cited instances of when Ormond Beach Fire Department personnel arrived before Volusia County Emergency Medical Services. The firefighters, who are EMTs, stabilize patients, but are not allowed to transport them.
“Volusia County does an OK job, or maybe even a good job, but they don’t do a great job,” Kent said. “You deserve to be transported immediately.”
Kent said if Volusia County can’t provide better service in the city, he wants the city to look at providing its own service, including hiring personnel, buying ambulances and billing patients.
Volusia County EVAC/EMS serves Volusia County and all of the 16 municipalities.
