VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — In 1975, the Virginia Beach Fire Department had more volunteers than career firefighters and providing uniform training was a challenge.
Fire department officials say that’s when then-Chief Harry Diezel took action, going before Virginia Beach City Council and secured funding to build a training center.
Officials say Deizel is largely responsible for the shift in the department going from a mostly volunteer organization into the All-Hazards Response agency that it is today.
Because of his efforts, Diezel was honored at a renaming ceremony Wednesday at what used to be the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center.
The very building that he helped make possible is now the is now the Harry E. Diezel Virginia Beach Fire Training Center.
Officials say Diezel was also responsible for other innovative changes at the department — including a policy allowing local fire departments to cross city lines to help each other.