Lombardo replaced as fire commissioner

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Mayor Brown has confirmed that Buffalo Fire Commissioner Mike Lombardo will be replaced.

The announcement came at 2 p.m Wednesday.

Mayor Brown did not name the successor to commissioner Lombardo, or who will be acting as interim commissioner

Deputy Commissioners Patrick Lewis and Garnell Whitfield were standing at the podium with the mayor, at the time of the announcement.

Mayor Brown did not say why he was taking a different direction in the leadership of the department, however, overtime in the fire department during the past four years has been a challenging issue for the city.

Commissioner Lombardo said the recent loss of two firefighters in a deli fire on Genesee Street, along with the injury of Mark Reed and the loss of Don Herbert years ago, were the saddest moments that he recalls.

Lombardo said it was Mayor Brown's decision to find a new commissioner, Lombardo has always been known as a 'firefighter's firefighter' among the rank and file of the Buffalo Fire Department.

Lombardo will be returned to the field as a battalion chief.