David Alex Estell was promoted to lieutenant with the East Liverpool Fire Department Friday morning. David Estell’s son Parker, 4, pins his badge on him following his promotion while his wife Nicole watches while holding their daughter Casey, 1. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL — David Alex Estell was surrounded by his family, friends, fellow fire firefighters and several East Liverpool police officers to help him celebrate on Friday morning after Mayor Bobby Smith administered to him the oath of office and he was officially promoted to lieutenant at the East Liverpool Fire Department.

After taking his oath, Estell’s wife Nicole and daughter Casey, 1 stood with Estell as his son Parker, 4, pinned the lieutenant badge on him.

Estell said the day meant a lot to him as he begins his new position shortly after celebrating his 10th anniversary with the department.

“I put a lot into this and met a lot of people, both within the department and the community,” Estell said. “Being from East Liverpool, this is a huge thing for me and just to be able to follow in the footsteps of all the guys that came before me that served as lieutenant. I’m very privileged and I feel like this is just what I’m meant to do and it’s something I have always wanted to do, and this is just the next step for me.”

Estell began his firefighting career with the Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department, where he served four years prior to joining the East Liverpool Fire Department in 2014.

Estell noted that he was able to get all his initial training through the state when he was with Liverpool Township, and he was fully certified in EMT school at the time.

“I’ve continued my education and things like that with this department and now I’m able to teach other people how to do the job and I hope to be able to pass that on to the guys and the ladies I work with each and every day,” Estell said.

Estell is a lifelong resident of East Liverpool and a graduate of East Liverpool High School Class of 2008.

Estell, who describes himself as an East End boy, said his desire to be a firefighter stems from his childhood and the 25 years he spent in the East End with family.

“I was very fortunate that my (school) bus stop was right across the street from one of the fire stations that is now closed,” Estell said. “I got to see them throughout the area. Retired Assistant Fire Chief Dave Edgel came to East Elementary all the time with his dog Hank and did fire safety and so it’s just something that always stuck with me and anytime I saw the fire engine out I would ride my bike and go see what they were doing and it just kind of turned into an adult passion.”

Estell said he spoke to his brother about it, and he gave him some career advice and put him in touch with Jones, who was the fire chief at the time.

Estell said it was about 2012 when he met with Jones, who was able to arrange a meeting for him with fire instructors at Stark State University and also with former Assistant Fire Chief Bill Burns, who was an instructor for the county.

That was when he started with Liverpool Township VFD, which was able to get him into the training programs.

“It just so happened that when I finished my Fire 2 Certification, East Liverpool had posted for testing and I took the test the same time as (Fire) Chief (Antony) Cumo,” Estell said. “It’s just kind of been the perfect storm.”

Estell said he doesn’t know how to explain having the passion to do firefighting, but it’s what he’s just always wanted to do. He also noted that he feels fortunate to be able to get to do the job in his hometown, and his wife moved to East Liverpool so he could.

“I’m privileged to be able to do this, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world,” Estell said. “It’s time that I pass along everything that I know and lead by example instead of just taking on the roles and trying to do everything myself. Hopefully I can be the leader that everyone expects and then some.”

Smith said that he worked with Estell before he retired from the fire department and he described Estell as a very good young man who is eager to learn, eager to supervise and make the right decisions for the town and his employees.

“I’m very excited to see him get what he deserves,” Smith said. “He has worked hard for it and has proven himself and I am looking forward to seeing how he does.”

Cumo said he feels Estell’s promotion was well deserved and that he has done a great job.

“He has taken on a lot of responsibilities around here for the past year helping me out, taking on the trainings, putting on the monthly trainings, making sure everybody has been sticking to them, and working with the new people we have been hiring,”

Cumo said that Estell will remain on his current shift working with the recently promoted Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Jones and working with the two relatively new employees. He also noted that the whole department is happy for Estell and proud of him and that Estell is a team player with a good work ethic and looks at what is in the best interests of the department.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com