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Personality Profile
Fire in his soul: Mason Fire Chief Bryan Brumagen comes by his career honestly By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
Mason, Ohio, Fire Chief Bryan Brumagen said firefighting is in his blood. Besides growing up in a fire department family with a fire chief living in his house, he also has an uncle and several cousins who are in the fire/rescue/EMT field. Throughout his childhood, he hung around various fire stations, and as a teenager, he spent his summers painting fire hydrants. So, when it came time to pick a career path, Brumagen knew there was only one choice. “I started work as a firefighter/EMT when I was 19,” he said. “While I worked, I attended The Ohio State University, where I earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree. As part of my graduate program, I had the opportunity to intern with the Phoenix, Ariz., Fire Department — a highly functioning and positive organization. Upon graduation, I completed paramedic training at the University of Cincinnati, where I continued to work as a firefighter/paramedic with the LovelandSymmes Fire Department.” Brumagen came to Mason in 2008, was promoted to lieutenant in 2012 and was named deputy chief in 2014. He was named acting fire chief in December 2017 and appointed to the permanent position in March 2018. “I like the challenge of finding ways to continually be better. As a city, we are always searching for a better way to deliver service to the community. It is something that is ingrained in our culture, and it is what makes every day interesting and challenging,” he said. The city of Mason, in southwestern Warren County, is located approximately 22 miles from downtown Cincinnati and known for music concerts, such as the Red Rhythm and Boom each July; the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament every August; and is home to King’s Island, one of the premier amusement parks in the Midwest. Brumagen said these events and attractions not only provide worldwide attention for Mason and help drive the city’s economic development initiatives, but they also promote the city’s culture of wellness that further enhances the quality of life for its residents. So it is important that the Mason Fire Department develop 38 THE MUNICIPAL | APRIL 2022
Mason, Ohio, Fire Chief Jason Brumagen
Chief Brumagen catches up with a future firefighter at the end of an emergency call. (Photo provided by Mason, Ohio, Fire Department)
