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Boca Grande Fire Chief David Edmonds, who will be retiring Nov. 1, this week announced that his replacement will be former Arcadia Fire Chief Claude W. Blosser III. Blosser is a board member of the Florida State Firefighters Association and a member of the Managerial Association of Southwest Florida Fire Officers.

Edmonds, who has served as chief of the Boca Grande Fire Department for 10 years, said he has selected his replacement now "so that we will have a couple of months to work together."

Before joining the Boca Grande department, Edmonds was a captain with the City of Sarasota Fire Department for 21 years and, after consolidating with the county, was battalion chief with the Sarasota Fire Department for four years. Originally from Wisconsin, Edmonds moved to Florida in 1956.

"I'll miss it," Edmonds said regarding his retirement this week, "but I'm looking forward to retirement. It's been most enjoyable. I've made my job easy by surrounding myself with good people."

His plans for retirement, he said, are "to try fishing for a while. I haven't done enough of that."

Blosser began his fire service career as a volunteer with the City of Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department from 1985 to 1988. He was named Chief of the City of Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department in 1988 and also became a paid firefighter with the City of Arcadia Fire Department that same year.

Blosser and his wife of almost 20 years, Kressie, have three children: Brianna, Claude IV and Kara. Together they enjoy large family trips with uncles, aunts and cousins.

Blosser coaches Little League Baseball, Dixie Girls Fast Pitch Softball and Youth Football. He enjoys working with children and being involved in the community.

Blosser attended Fire School at the City of Sarasota Fire Academy in 1988 and received Florida Fire Standards. He also attended South Florida Community College, receiving EMT certification.

He attended Manatee County Vo-Tech for Florida Paramedic certification and in 1991 received the David Beaudry Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement while attending Paramedic School. He holds numerous other certificates in areas of Emergency Response and Operations.

He was named City of Arcadia Firefighter of the Year in 1992.

A State of Florida Certified-Fire Service Instructor 1 and 2, Fire Officer 1 and 2, and Inspector 1, he is an Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor, Basic Life Support instructor and Emergency Vehicle Operations instructor.

He earned his AS degree in Fire Science from Keiser University in 2006.

Blosser currently serves as Desoto County Representative for Florida State Emergency Response Plan Region 6.

He represented the City of Arcadia Fire Department in Desoto County EOC for Hurricane Charley and was also involved in operations prior to and post Hurricane Charley.

Blosser was Great Florida Fire School Chairman 2004-2007. A member of the Florida State Firefighters Association, he served as President 2000-2003 and is presently still a board member. He has been a member of the Managerial Association of Southwest Florida Fire Officers from 1999 to the present.

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