By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

WYOMING - After commuting from his Colerain Township home to his job in Columbus for 41/2 years, state Fire Marshal Robert Rielage is coming back here to work.

Rielage, 56, will start as Wyoming's fire chief July 28.

The Cincinnati suburb has a department made up of volunteer firefighters and a mix of part-time and volunteer paramedics.

"He brings a tremendous amount of unique experience for our community," City Manager Robert Harrison said. "He's got a great deal of experience in homeland security."

Rielage will oversee Wyoming's Emergency Services Department, which consists of fire and emergency medical services divisions.

Combined, the two divisions have 65 personnel and respond to about 250 fire and 1,400 EMS calls per year.

Wyoming also provides paramedic service to several neighboring communities.

Rielage will make $76,000 a year. His Colerain Township residence is within Wyoming's residency requirement area, Harrison said. Rielage's wife, Diana, is a Colerain Township trustee.

"Bob fits right in with that leadership structure that we have here," Harrison said. "We spend a lot of time doing programs and fire prevention in our community. (Rielage) has a lot of experience in public-relations areas as well."

The Cincinnati native and long-time Colerain Township resident has been state fire marshal since 1999. Earlier, he spent 27 years on the Colerain Township Fire Department, rising to the rank of assistant chief.

"He's got a tremendous amount of integrity, character," Harrison said. "He brings instant credibility to any department that he were to serve."

E-mail daveck@fuse.net