Wayne Zikan is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and after 10 years serving the community as Armidale Fire Station commander he has been promoted to Region North Three, Duty Commander.

As one of two duty commanders in the region, acting inspector Zikan will share in the management of 21 fire stations.

The new job will not only require management of staff for the fire fighting veteran but will also see him take control of significant and complex fires in the region.

“As the station commander, you would be the first one to go to fires,” he said.  

“You would ride on the fire engine, take charge and deal with the situation.

“But if it was a significant incident, particularly if there is more than one station attending a fire, I can step in and take more of a coordinating role and leave the station commander to worry about the actual fire fighting.”

Acting inspectors Zikan’s promotion has left a hole at the local station that has been temporarily filled with acting commanders. But a new station commander from Port Macquarie is starting permanently next week.