(SACRAMENTO, CA) — Stephen Mayer thought he was simply returning to Sacramento Fire Station 6 after a call this week.
He had no idea what was waiting for him.
Inside, the station was packed with family, friends and fellow firefighters who had gathered to surprise Mayer following his promotion to battalion chief. Some traveled from other states. Others came from different chapters of a fire service career that began nearly three decades ago.
(Credit/Sacramento Fire Department Facebook Page.)
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Mayer relocated to California in 1996 and began his career as a reserve firefighter with the Sacramento Fire Department. He served as a reserve for three years before entering the department's paramedic intern program, attending the fire academy and becoming a full-time Sacramento firefighter in 2001.
For some of those congratulating Mayer this week, the promotion brought back memories of those early years.
"You were the most excited, happy and hardest working member of the fire reserves back in the day," Diane Steed wrote in a public Facebook comment. "You helped roll alot of hose back then. Couldn't be more proud of all you have achieved my friend!!!"
Robert Tancredi also recalled serving alongside Mayer as a reserve firefighter, while Julie McIntyre remembered meeting him while working a fire prevention booth on K Street.
"You impressed me then and you impress me now," McIntyre wrote.
Mayer's career would eventually extend well beyond emergency response.
A longtime member of Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, Mayer joined its Honor Guard in 2003 and later became commander of the ceremonial unit, which honors fallen firefighters and supports their families during funerals and memorial services.
The regional Honor Guard includes volunteers representing eight fire departments and participates in more than 30 events annually, including memorials, funerals, promotions, parades and fire academy graduations.
Mayer's leadership in that role earned recognition from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District in 2025, when he was nominated for honorary membership in Metro Fire.
"When Metro Fire requires assistance during events involving the Honor Guard, Steve is often one of the first members to respond," the nomination stated, praising his calm demeanor, professionalism and commitment to families of fallen firefighters.
The nomination also described Mayer as someone who placed service above agency affiliation and approached grieving families with humility and compassion.
Those qualities were echoed in the flood of congratulations following his promotion.
"Well deserved Steve! Congratulations to you and those who get the privilege of working for you!" Rick Marrs wrote.
Others mixed congratulations with the kind of humor that comes from years spent working together.
"Congrats Mayo! I mean 'Chief'!!!" David Bevers wrote, joking that Mayer could now make Starbucks runs without bribing his crew with free coffee.
For Mayer, the gathering at Station 6 marked another milestone in a career that began at the bottom of the organization.
Nearly three decades after starting as a reserve firefighter, the former Queens native returned from a call to find many of the people who had watched that career unfold waiting to welcome him into his newest role: Battalion Chief Stephen Mayer.
If you’d like to add or correct anything in this report, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below. Submit Sacramento tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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