Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Volunteer Firefighter of the Year - Volunteer Chief Van Tisdale

Chief Van Tisdale started his fire rescue career at Dover/Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Station 23, in October of 2000. While at station 23, Van earned his Firefighter Certification. In 2004, he graduated from Leary Tech with his Emergency Medical Technician Certification. And in 2010, he attended Florida Medical Training Institute, earning his Paramedic Degree.

At Station 23, Chief Van Tisdale worked his way up the ranks becoming a Driver Engineer in 2004, a Lieutenant in 2005, a Captain in 2006 and the station’s Assistant Chief in 2007.

In 2008, Chief Tisdale was asked to run for Bloomingdale Fire Chief and was voted as the Chief of Bloomingdale Fire Rescue. In his first year as Chief, Van was elected as President of the Hillsborough County Volunteer Fire Chief’s Association.

While running Bloomingdale Fire Rescue, Chief Tisdale also has a full time job at Johns Hopkins Medicine /All Children’s Hospital as a Pediatric Paramedic in the Emergency Center. On his days off, he works at Florida Medical Training Institute teaching prospective EMT to Paramedic students.

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