Keith Geiger sworn in as new Seville-Guilford fire chief

SEVILLE — Keith Geiger will serve as the new chief of Seville-Guilford Fire and EMS after being sworn in to the position by state Sen. Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, on Tuesday. Guilford Township trustee Scott Phillips said the trustees worked with fire department personnel and a professional assessment panel in the process of finding a new fire chief. Ultimately, it was decided Geiger was the right person for the position. "Chief Geiger, you have some big shoes to fill, and this role is not to be taken lightly," he said. "Your staff will rely on you for both critical decisions and day-to-day decisions. You're stepping into a department made up of a powerful and dedicated group of professionals." Geiger retired from the Green Fire Department in September as a captain with more than two decades of experience. He said he originally had no intention of coming back to the fire service. "After talking with (former chief) Brian (Cyphert), interviewing with the current command staff that I have here, I realized this was definitely a good fit," he said. Geiger has experience as a firefighter for the Reminderville Fire Department and teaches with the State Fire Marshal's Office. He has also served as the deputy branch director of the Summit County HazMat team and as a tactical medic for the Summit County Sheriff's Office SWAT team. "Based on your resume and extensive background, it is clear that you're an exceptional leader and a man of integrity," Phillips said. "Those qualities do not develop in isolation. They are often strengthened by support at home." Phillips said the township looks forward to Geiger's leadership in the department. "So far, with everybody that I met here and everybody that I talked with, I think this is going to be a perfect fit for us," Geiger said. Cyphert left his role as Seville-Guilford fire chief in June and is now the assistant fire chief at the Brunswick Division of Fire. "I really think that Keith (Geiger) is the right person for this job," Cyphert said. "He's going to take this department to the next level and lead, develop, learn and provide amazing service to the Seville-Guilford community." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.