Ithaca has a new permanent fire chief after a unanimous vote by the Common Council.
City leaders appointed Michael Moody as fire chief of the Ithaca Fire Department during their Jan. 7 meeting. The appointment took effect immediately.
Moody has served as acting fire chief since October, following the retirement of former Chief Rob Covert. City officials said the move provides continuity and stability for the department.
Moody began his firefighting career in April 2006 in Little Falls. He joined the Herkimer Fire Department in 2007 and rose through the ranks before being appointed fire chief there in 2021.
He joined the Ithaca Fire Department in 2023 as deputy chief of operations.
Moody is a graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College and has served as a New York State fire instructor for the past five years. Most recently, he was assigned to the Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Technical Rescue Branch.
City officials said Moody brings experience in fire prevention, emergency medical response, and rescue. He also has a background in business administration and has owned a small business for nearly 20 years.
“I am excited to step into the role as Fire Chief of the City of Ithaca,” Moody said. “Our firefighters are a highly skilled and dedicated team of professionals, and my role is to support their mission of protecting life and property.”
He added that the department will continue building a progressive approach to public safety while serving the community with professionalism and care.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].