07/24/2026
MEET YOUR DEPARTMENT:
My name is Samuel Schaller. I started with the Melrose Fire Department as a volunteer approximately 13 years ago and now hold a full time position as a captain and assistant fire marshal with a medium-sized city in the Orlando metropolitan area. Prior to my current role, I served full-time as a firefighter with Putnam County Fire Rescue, and held several part-time positions with various other local fire departments such as Windsor, Cross Creek, Micanopy, and LaCrosse. I also serve as an instructor with the State of Florida's volunteer firefighter certification program at the Florida State Fire College.
My primary passion in the fire service is fire prevention, inspections, investigation, and public education, and have spent the vast majority of my career working in the fire prevention bureau. I firmly believe that preventing emergencies before they occur is one of the most meaningful ways we can protect our communities. A proactive approach to community risk reduction is just as vital to protecting lives as responding to emergencies.
I continue to work part-time for the Melrose Fire Department because of the close-knit community within both the department and the town. It also gives me the opportunity to give back to the organization that helped lay the foundation for my career in the fire service.
I hold certificates as a Fire Officer 2, Fire Inspector 2, Fire Instructor 2, Fire Investigator, Hazardous Materials Technician, and various disciplines of technical rescue. I obtained my bachelor's degree in Fire Adminstration and Investigation from Columbia Southern University in 2024, and am currently pursuing my master's in Public Administration.
When I'm not working, I enjoy watching reruns of "Emergency!", spending time in the gym, and collecting vintage memorabilia, specifically vinyl records and mid-century modern furniture.
