Geiger to become Ottawa's deputy fire chief

Ottawa Fire Department Capt. Tim Geiger will likely be stepping up to the role of deputy fire chief next month.

The Ottawa City Council approved an employment agreement, with Geiger expected to take the position following the council’s final approval next month.

Geiger said he’s excited about the promotion after 23 years with the department.

“It’s just like any other promotion. You’re excited about it and hopefully you can affect some change and better the department. Leave it better than before,” Geiger said.

He grew up in Grand Ridge and followed the footsteps of his father, who was also a firefighter.

“I got involved with him and some good friends with him that were on the department and then started doing it and realized I liked it, I liked helping other people and thought that’d be a good route to go,” Geiger said.

He estimates he spent around seven years with the department before joining on with the Ottawa Fire Department.

Geiger is replacing Andy Borkowski, who was promoted to fire chief after former Chief Steve Haywood retired.

Borkowski said he’s worked with Geiger for almost his entire career and that the pair will complement each other nicely.

Mayor Bob Eschbach, who sat in on interviews for the position, also spoke highly of Geiger.

He noted they interviewed five firefighters from Ottawa and four outside firefighters for the position.

“Tim Geiger had the support of all of us who interviewed him and even one of the other applicants,” he said with a chuckle.

Geiger currently resides in Ottawa with his 14-year-old son Garett and said he’s enjoyed working with the fire department so far and looks forward to serving the department in his new role in the near future.

“Coming from this area, it’s your hometown, and you’re giving something back to your own community,” Geiger said. “It’s a nice, tight-knit group of people, and we’ve got excellent guys here that are easy to work with, and it’s home.”