The Bradford County Commission voted to have the Sheriff’s Office taken over the fire department.
The move was made after the former fire chief resigned and about two-thirds of the volunteers left the department, leaving some residents concerned for their safety should there be an emergency.
Sheriff Gordon Smith, who's now also the fire chief, made his first priority rebuilding the fire department’s manpower.
"I have been called a lot of things -- fire chief hadn’t been one of them," Smith told News on Monday. "But I will tell you what, it is exciting."
Bradford County is now the third county in the state where the Sheriff’s Office runs the fire department.
Over the past few weeks, Smith has brought on a new team with experience that he believes will help make a difference in the community.