Batavia Fire Captain Completes Fire Officer III Training

Batavia, N.Y. — October 8, 2026 — The City of Batavia Fire Department praised Captain Zechariah Gowanlock for finishing the Fire Officer III program from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. 

Senior fire service officers receive Fire Officer III training to master administrative and leadership responsibilities. The program advances upon the company-level supervision taught in prior officer courses, tackling broader department management, planning, and operational duties. 

The training covers budget development, personnel management, resource allocation, community risk reduction, emergency response planning, and departmental health and safety programs. These abilities ready fire officers to handle department-wide tasks and align resources during complicated or multi-agency incidents. 

Gowanlock offers expertise in emergency medical services, workplace health and safety, and member assistance within his position. In June 2026, the department announced his promotion from lieutenant to captain, effective July 5. Previously, he managed the department's EMS quality assurance and improvement program, station supply operations, and the Health and Safety Program. He also played a role in creating the department's Peer Support Team.