FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — A new fire chief has been appointed to man the helm of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District (FMBFD).

Scott Wirth was chosen for the role on July 26 by the Board of Fire Commissioners, according to an FMBFD press release.

Wirth became the acting fire chief back in March of this year. He was previously working as the district’s chief of operations before former FMBFD Fire Chief Ronald Martin resigned.

GET MORE COVERAGE: Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Ronald Martin resigns

Chief Wirth began working on Fort Myers Beach back in 2017, right before Hurricane Irma.

He started his journey as a fire official back in 1989 while he was in high school. Wirth joined the Placid Lakes Volunteer Fire Department in Lake Placid. According to the press release, he worked as a non-certified firefighter before he was hired by the City of Fort Myers Fire Department in 1991.

Wirth worked with the city before retiring in 2017 as the division chief of operations.

FMBFD said Wirth grew up in a family closely tied to construction trades. This ended up intersecting with his work as a firefighter.

He continued to pursue his aspirations of building construction and real estate while working as a firefighter. Wirth even became a licensed general contractor in 2005.

Chief Wirth continued building homes up until 2012 when he moved from shift work and into fire administration.