Rhett Fleitz

Rhett M. Fleitz, 29, is a Lieutenant with the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department. He moved to Roanoke from Richmond when he was hired by the department in 1999. His interest in the history of the Fire-EMS Department grew when he sat down and thumbed through the vast collection of photos and information bestowed to the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association by the family of Maurice Wiseman. Maurice was the historian for the Roanoke Fire Department and had planned on writing a history book on the department. Unfortunately, Maurice died in 2001, before he could write the book.

As an involved member in the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association, Fleitz decided to finish what Wiseman had started by taking the collection and adding in photos from other firefighters, and families of firefighters and wrote 'Firefighting in Roanoke'. Fleitz was able to tap into recourses such as the History Museum of Western Virginia, the Virginia Room at the Downtown Roanoke Library, and the VT Imagebase at Virginia Tech.

Fleitz has been able to gain historical insite through talking with many of the retired members of the Roanoke Fire Department, some having worked in the department in the 1940's. Fleitz regards the book as a present to the Roanoke Firefighters on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the first volunteer Fire Company, the 100th anniversary of the fully paid Roanoke Fire Department, and the 100th anniversary of the Historic Fire Station #1 in Downtown Roanoke. He hopes to continue gathering the history of the Roanoke Firefighters.

Rhett lives in Roanoke, Virginia with his Wife, Becky, and their two children.