Owosso Twp – Mike Ardelean, President of CLH Insurance and OHS graduate of 1978 has just been promoted from Owosso Township Fire Departments’ Battalion Chief to Fire Chief.  

FCNG sat down with Mr. Ardelean at his CLH Office on Thursday to discuss his new position in the Fire Department.  

Mr. Ardelean stated that he joined the Owosso Twp. Fire Department in August of 1985. He was promoted to Captain in 1990 and served in that capacity for almost 25 years. He was then promoted to Battalion Chief and today is his first day of being Fire Chief.  

Mr. Ardelean said that he is married, has 3 children, 2 grandchildren and has a granddaughter on the way.  

Owosso Township Fire Department has always had a reputation for fighting fires aggressively. OTFD is noted for hitting the fire hard and not normally doing surround and drown, where one allows a structure to burn while just protecting adjacent structures.  

OTFD is noted for going into buildings and rescuing anyone that may be inside instead of telling its firefighters that they can’t enter to look for people that may be trapped or overcome by smoke.  

FCNG asked if with new leadership is the firefighting philosophy going to change. The good news for anyone that lives or owns property in Owosso Township is that the firefighting philosophy is not changing, and they will continue to fight fires as they always have. OTFD is not alone for Corunna Caledonia and many other Fire Departments still fight fires aggressively.  

Mr. Ardelean stated, “I would consider us a very aggressive fire department. I was brought up, we go in, get to the seat of the fire, and put it out.” “I will continue to lead that way, to the way I was brought up and trained. With that said safety always comes first.” “Life safety is the number one priority on every fire scene whether it be the general public's life, or a firefighters' life. But as a general rule we are a fairly aggressive fire department.” 

Mr Ardelean spoke highly of the fire fighters that he serves with. Mr. Ardelean made it very clear that it is the brothers and sisters that he serves with that is what makes the department as good as it is. Mr. Ardelean is a humble individual that wants to give all the credit to those he serves with.  

Owosso Charter Township is a charter township of Shiawassee County in the U.S. State of Michigan. The population was 4,821 at the 2010 census. The township borders the city of Owosso on the east, but the two are administered autonomously. Wikipedia