DEARBORN— Fire Chief Nazih Hazime’s leadership as a safety official and as an Arab American community figure was honored Wednesday in a farewell reception hosted by the Congress of Arab American Organizations at the Lebanese American Heritage Club.

Dearborn Fire Chief Nazih Hazime, second left, receives a medal from Mayor Jack O’Reilly at the Lebanese American Heritage Club on Wednesday with Imad Hamad, L, of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, and Police Chief Ronald Haddad.   PHOTO: Natasha Dado/TAAN

After serving as a Dearborn firefighter for 25 years, Hazime will officially retire from his position on July 30.
He plans to relocate to Arizona with his family, where he will become fire chief in the city of Sedona in September.

“He has been truly outstanding, and truly a role model,” said Andrea Awada, principal of Dearborn’s Geer Park Elementary School and president of ACCESS’ board of directors.

“Always willing to go the extra mile and get his hands dirty.”

Hazime became one of Dearborn’s first top Arab American city figures when he was appointed fire chief in 2004.

Hazime was given an honorary award for his hard work and commitment to the city and guests gathered to take pictures with him.

Dearborn Fire Chief Nazih Hazime PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal/TAAN

“It’s a bittersweet feeling going to another location to make a difference. Leaving family and friends is going to be the most difficult. But we’ll make all our vacations out here,” Hazime said.
After spotting a job posting for fire chief in Sedona, where his family has vacationed for years, Hazime applied, and was appointed. He said the high temperature is something that attracted him to the state.

Hazime was 17 when he first approached the fire department for a job. He was told he was too young and had to receive his Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) license, a degree in fire science and a job working for the city. A very driven Hazime did all three and eventually became a firefighter.

Hazime has received a number of awards for his work. He has led one of the top fire departments in the country, with the capacity to reach any city location in the event of an emergency within four minutes.

“He’s done great with regionalization and emergency management,” said Emad Shenouda, protective security advisor for the eastern Michigan district of the Homeland Security Department.

Shenouda described the chief as a real leader.

Hazime received awards and certificates of appreciation at the event from the Congress of Arab American Organizations, ACCESS and the city of Dearborn.

Hazime said in an earlier interview that whoever takes his place as fire chief will have to learn and appreciate the diversity of the city.

“It’s all about getting out in the community… maintaining the stability of the department and being innovative,” he said.

“The diversity makes it a great place to live… Community involvement is huge.”