Fire Department Hires New Deputy Chief

Retirements and resignations at the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department have left openings for new hires and promotions. The city has advertised these positions both within and outside the department.

One of the vacancies was created by the departure of Deputy Chief David Batiato in July of this year, after nearly 32 years with the department. Batiato, who served as second in command, began his career in 1991.

When the department looked to replace Deputy Chief Batiato, they sought an individual with similar skill sets, to assist Fire Chief Chris Byrne. Byrne returned to the department after retiring from that same position. 

Byrne replaced Chief Michael Murphy upon his retirement after serving Marco Island for 20 years. Chief Byrne served as Deputy Chief under Murphy for a number of years and understands what is needed for that position. 

No one within the department sought the Deputy Chief position, causing human resources to advertise it outside of the department. Numerous applications were received prior to the interview process before the job was offered to Battalion Chief Matthew Marshall from the City of Cape Coral.

Marshall has been in the fire service for over 20 years, most of which has been with the Cape Coral Fire Department. Deputy Chief Marshall serves on many hazmat committees in the State of Florida, is a certified Paramedic, Fire Officer 2, Live Fire Instructor, Fire Service Instructor, and Task Force Leader. Marshall is also the only certified trainer for E-Plan, an online copyrighted software database for hazardous materials developed and maintained by the University of Texas-Dallas.

Marshall said that as a young man growing up in southern New Jersey, he always had a strong desire to work within the fire service. He moved to Florida to attend college, and by the time he had reached his 20th birthday, he was hired for a job in Haines City, Florida. When Cape Coral advertised an opening in its Fire Department, he applied. He got the job and began his career in the fire service.

When asked to reflect on his time in the fire service, Marshall spoke about his deployment to the catastrophic building collapse at the Surfside Condominium Complex in North Dade County. Marshall was deployed with the Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Team 6.

In June, firefighters from Marco Island held a ceremonial “walk-in” to the interim fire headquarters for Deputy Chief Marshall and newly appointed Fire Marshal Jennifer Pierce. Pierce will be featured in a future article in the Coastal Breeze News. 

Marshall is married and has three young children.