Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced in December that William Fitzpatrick received his nomination to lead the Yonkers Fire Department. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the City Council unanimously approved that appointment.
A veteran returns
William Fitzpatrick is a Yonkers native and a graduate of Sacred Heart High School. He follows in the footsteps of his family legacy within the Yonkers Fire Department. Fitzpatrick’s roots in the YFP trace back to 1979 when he first joined as a Firefighter assigned to Station 3. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, serving as Lieutenant in 1988, Captain in 1991, and Assistant Chief in 2001. In 2004, he assumed the role of Deputy Chief of Operations until his retirement in 2012.
And now, Fitzpatrick returns to add to his previous 32 years of dedicated service. The seasoned firefighter replaces the retired Commissioner, Anthony Pagano. Similar to Fitzpatrick, Pagano had served as Fire Commissioner from 2002 to 2011, then returned in 2021. With his retirement, Mayor Spano commended Pagano’s decades of experience and exceptional service, thanking him for his dedication to the City of Yonkers.
Mayor Spano expressed confidence in Fitzpatrick’s abilities, stating, “William Fitzpatrick has the knowledge, management skills, and compassion to lead our Yonkers Fire Department. He’s a firefighter’s firefighter, who rose through the ranks during his career. This job is part of who he is.” William Fitzpatrick expressed gratitude for the opportunity and conveyed his eagerness to collaborate with the Administration, EMS, and Yonkers Police Department to enhance safety for the citizens of Yonkers.
I’m looking forward to getting back in! I’m so impressed with how the Yonkers Fire Department has evolved in the 11 years since my retirement.
Mayor Spano also noted the personal nature of Fitzpatrick’s return from retirement. “His father and three brothers retired from the Yonkers Fire Department, and what better way to continue that legacy than returning as Commissioner.”
