Brighton Area Fire Authority is proud to introduce 4 new full-time firefighters who will officially start their duties on December 29, 2019. Fire Chief Michael O’Brian stated, “The Fire Authority is so proud to have been able to hire within our organization and promote these talented firefighters who will assist the organization in its mission to meet the growing demands of our communities including the expansion of 24-hour coverage in Genoa Township.”
Brighton Fire was awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) from FEMA in September 2019. This grant provides federal assistance for a three-year period to support fire departments working to meet the needs of their communities and expand 24-hour coverage. The grant will help cover the salaries and usual benefits of three out of the four new full-time firefighters over the next three years: 75% in years one and two and 35 percent in the final year, totally $533,355 in Federal assistance. The fourth firefighter hired filled the vacancy created from the retirement of 50-year employee, Capt. Don Hall.
Corey Laber – Lt. Laber started as a paid-on-call firefighter with Brighton Area Fire Authority on September 9, 2013, assigned to Station 35 in Genoa Twp. He was voted Station 35’s Firefighter of the
Year for 2015 and 2016 by his peers followed by senior staff selecting him as BAFA’s Firefighter of the Year for 2017. In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was appointed Station Lead of Station 34 in Genoa Twp.
Jeremy Griffin – FF/ENG Griffin started as a paid-on-call firefighter with Brighton Area Fire Authority on August 27, 2016, assigned to Station 33 in Brighton Twp. He completed his On-the-Job training Program in 2017 while also successfully obtaining his EMT certification. His training progression continued in 2018 achieving Engineer status with the Fire Authority.
Philip Mattern – FF/ENG Mattern started as a paid-on-call firefighter with Brighton Area Fire Authority on October 28, 2017, assigned to Station 34 in Genoa Twp. He obtained full firefighter status on
December 19, 2018. In 2019, Philip was appointed to the BAFA Safety Committee and successfully achieved Engineer status.
Justin Thornton – FF/ENG Thornton started as a paid-on-call firefighter with Brighton Area Fire Authority on August 26, 2017, assigned to Station 35 in Genoa Twp. Justin was tenacious about completing his initial training. In fact, he was our first employee to complete the new On-the-Job training program before completion of the Fire Academy. This required drive and dedication. After completion of the Fire Academy, Justin dived into EMT training which he successfully completed in July 2019.