DAYTON DAILY NEWS                   Copyright (c) 1995, Dayton Newspapers Inc.DATE: Thursday, December 27, 1995            TAG: 9512280129EDITION: CITY           SECTION: METRO TODAY PAGE: 1B TYPE: PROFILECENTERPIECE  SOURCE: By Bob Batz        DAYTON DAILY NEWS         NEW FIRE CHIEF READY TO ROLL; DOESN'T EXPECT ANY SURPRISES    When Robert Zickler was in high school he wanted to be a priest.   Then he decided hed rather fight fires than serve communion, and on Jan. 8 the banjo-playing son of an Indianapolis plumber will become Daytons fire chief - succeeding Ray Hughes, who retires Dec. 31.   Zickler, 53, is already saying good things about the Dayton Fire Department. "Its an aggressive, combat-style department, which goes along withmy belief that you often have to stand in the middle of a fire before you can read it right," he said.   As for his new home-to-be, Zickler said Dayton reminds him a lot of Indianapolis, where he has lived all his life.   "When I visited Dayton for the first time in September, I felt comfortable," he said. "It was like I never left home. The two cities have much in common - including friendly people."   Zickler - who would have marked his 26th year with the Indianapolis Fire Department the day before he starts his new job here - isnt expecting any surprises in Dayton. He knows about the February vote in which a majority of the 375 members of the International Association of Fire Fighters indicated they had no confidence in Chief Hughes.   Hes also aware of the Dayton City Commissions Dec. 13 firing of City Manager Bill Estabrook, and he understands that some hard feelings may exist in the ranks of the department because an outsider was chosen over at least two local finalists for the chiefs job.   "Politics and people problems are challenges facing all fire chiefs," Zickler said. "Ive found that the best way to deal with them is to identify the issues and put them on the table. And decisions must be focused on the issues, not the personalities."   Zickler was first interviewed by Estabrook for the post in September. "I came away with the feeling that Mr. Estabrook had done his homework because heasked some very good questions," he said.   Zickler, who got his high school credits at a Catholic seminary, joined theIndianapolis Fire Department in 1970 as a $6,200-a-year private, then worked his way up through the ranks.   For many men and women, firefighting is a childhood dream, or a family tradition. Its not that way with Zickler. "I never thought about being a firefighter when I was young," he said. "For a long time, I wanted to be a school teacher. Later, I was sure the priesthood was for me. My father is a master plumber, and nobody else in my family is in the fire service.   As the Indianapolis Fire Departments only assistant chief, Zickler and the division heads who work for him are responsible for most of the day-to-day operations.    The 720-member department - which operates out of 28 firehouses in the cityof 600,000 - had about 10,000 fire calls in 1994. Its budget that year was about $42 million.   The Dayton Fire Department, with about 435 members, maintains 14 fire stations and responded to about 8,000 fire calls in 1994, when its budget was about $29 million.   Zickler describes himself as "laid back . . . goal-oriented."   "I expect people to perform to the best of their abilities," he said. "I also believe in being honest, and treating people fairly."   Zickler, an emergency medical technician, has taught classes on urban search and rescue tactics like those employed by the rescue teams that went toOklahoma City after the bombing of the federalbuilding there on April 19.    The fire service has changed considerably in the last 26 years, Zickler said. "Firefighting is a much harder job now because of the complexities created by chemicals, exposure problems and the greater use of plastics, whichmake fires burn much hotter," he said.   Firefighters have changed, too.   "Todays firefighters have a stronger commitment to their communities. They are also a lot more independent than they used to be, a quality I like becauseit tends to make the men and women more open and sharing. And, thanks to better equipment and training, firefighters are advancing further into burningstructures than they ever have before.."   Zickler has plenty of supporters in Indianapolis.   Michael Beaver, director of public safety for the city, said Zickler has always been on the cutting edge of firefighting. "Equipment and training are his priorities, and hes always looking ahead to try to determine what the needs will be 10 years down the road," Beaver said.    Dr. Michael Olinger, director of emergency medical services at Methodist Hospital and medical director for the fire department, agrees.    "Our loss is Daytons gain," Olinger said. "You guys are lucky to be gettingBob. Its so refreshing to to find a fire chief who also understands EMS."   Zickler isnt an out-going person, Olinger said.   "He's never been a real public person, but as a fire chief, he'll have to be. And Im confident he'll rise to meet the challenge," Olinger said.   Some Dayton firefighters are taking a wait and see attitude when it comes to the new chief.   "When the people at my engine house looked at Zickler's credentials, they liked what they saw because he knows firefighting and EMS.  Considering his experience, I think we ought to give him a chance," said a Dayton firefighter who asked that his name not be used.LENGTH: Long  :  106 LINESILLUSTRATION: PHOTO (COLOR):   Familiar feeling: Indianapolis Assistant Fire           Chief Robert Zickler says his visit to Dayton was 'like I never left          home.'          PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL CONROY/ASSOCIATED PRESSSUBJ: FIRE CHIEF      APPOINTMENTS NA: ROBERT ZICKLER GEOG: DAYTON ENHANCER: REF8