Sterling Fire District celebrates 100 years of service

When asked why they became a volunteer firefighter, the men and women at the Sterling Fire District will give you similar answers: to give back to the community. For many, it’s also a family tradition. Chief Josh Glessner, who has been a member of the department since 1999, is a third-generation Sterling firefighter. His grandfather was a member and his uncles — Dale and Dick Glessner — continue to be active members. He became the chief in 2013 after Dick Glessner retired from the position. “It’s giving back to the community as a way to volunteer,” Josh Glessner explained. This year marks 100 years of service for the Sterling Fire District. The celebration of the centennial was initially planned to correspond with the annual chicken BBQ on Aug. 15. Due to the coronavirus, the celebration has been postponed until the spring, and the chicken barbecue will be available for takeout.
The Daily Record

Fairborn’s fire chief shares his experience battling the coronavirus

Three weeks. That’s how long Fairborn Fire Chief David Reichert said it took him and his wife to recover from COVID-19 and to be symptom-free long enough to go back to work. Reichert talked about his experience to a statewide audience in a Q&A with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine during the governor’s COVID-19 briefing. News Center 7 carried the news conference live on Channel 7 and on our WHIO Facebook page. Wednesday, Chief Reichert talked one-on-one with News Center 7's John Bedell about his experience with the virus. When asked how he was feeling at the moment, Reichert said, “Ah, feeling good. Feeling really good today.” Wednesday was Reichert’s third day back at work in the first week he’s been at a firehouse in a month.
WHIO-TV CBS 7 Dayton

Wayne Township firefighters team up for fallen heroes

For the sixth year, Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Rescue will participate with a team in the Columbus 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and Walk. The stair climb is set to happen on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Fortress Obetz, 2015 Recreational Trail in Obetz, Ohio. According to Wayne Township Fire Chief Chris Wysong, participants from all around Ohio and neighboring states come together for this event. “Participants are climbing to honor and remember the 343 FDNY (Fire Department of New York City) firefighters who selflessly gave their lives in 2001 so that others might live,” explained Wysong. “The funds raised will benefit the FDNY Counseling Services Unit, and the programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to support the families of our nation’s fallen firefighters.”
Record Herald

‘We got him’: Friends surprise Middletown fire chief after return home from liver transplant

As soon as Paul Lolli, Middletown’s fire chief, heard the sirens screaming from a fire truck he reached for his phone to see the location of the emergency as it sounded like the truck was getting closer to his house. By that time it was too late. “We got him,” said his sister Ginger Bruggeman. On Sunday night, eight days after Lolli received a liver transplant at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, more than 100 family and friends surprised him with a drive-by celebration because they couldn’t visit him due to the coronavirus. “He had no idea,” Bruggeman said. On Sunday night, eight days after Lolli received a liver transplant at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, more than 100 family and friends surprised him with a drive-by celebration because they couldn’t visit him due to the coronavirus. “He had no idea,” Bruggeman said.
Oxford Press

Fire at reportedly abandoned trailer park in Montgomery County under investigation

As many as three trailers burned in a fire Wednesday night at what was described as an abandoned trailer park in the 2400 block of Sherer Avenue in Harrison Twp. We’re hearing the fire is being investigated as a possible arson. There were no reported injuries in the fire, which produced a lot of smoke. The fire was reported in the 2400 block of Sherer Avenue, off Woodland Hills Boulevard, about 6:54 p.m. A caller to Montgomery County 9-1-1 described the fire as “pretty bad. I see a whole bunch of smoke.” According to the caller, the fire was burning at the Woodland Hills abandoned mobile home park, off Woodland Hills Boulevard. WHIO will update this developing report as we learn more.
WHIO-TV CBS 7 Dayton

Buckeye Lake hires new fire chief

The Village of Buckeye Lake hired Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District's captain as its new fire chief last week. Ryan Wyse was sworn into office by Buckeye Lake Mayor Peggy Wells during a brief ceremony outside the Buckeye Lake Fire Department on Friday, alongside his daughters and other family. "I knew that he was looking for a chiefs position and our current chief has been wanting to resign just because he felt bad that he didn't have the time to spend he thought he would have," Wells told The Advocate. Wyse replaces Scott Hite, who has worked as the village's fire chief since the beginning of 2020. According to Wells, Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District Chief Clifford Mason will rearrange the hours Wyse works at his department so he has time to spend at Buckeye Lake. Mason previously also served as Buckeye Lake's interim fire chief following the death of Pete Leindecker.
Newark Advocate

Columbus firefighter honored 150 years after his death

A century and a half ago, Mark Newman became the first Columbus firefighter to die in the line of duty. On Tuesday, the Columbus Division of Fire and his descendants gathered to honor him with a ceremony and the unveiling of a headstone. On Aug. 4, 1870, Newman died while fighting a fire at the Columbus Woolen Mills Factory when a wall collapsed onto him. Newman, who was also a police officer, was buried with honors from both departments but was left in an unmarked grave in Green Lawn Cemetery. When Columbus firefighter Chris Klein learned that in 2013, he set out to change it. “His name has been on our rolls for a long time,” Newman said. “I have so many of these little mysteries I’m unraveling, but this has been the biggest and the longest one.” With the help of fellow firefighter Steve Cox, a GoFundMe account was set up and raised over $6,000.
Columbus Dispatch

Steubenville council approves emergency ambulance contract

With the launch of the city’s own ambulance service still at least a month away, City Council acted Tuesday to make sure there’s no lapse in emergency protection overnight for the next six days. Council voted 7-0 on an emergency basis to contract with Wintersville Fire Department to provide the personnel needed to designate one of their ambulances to answer calls in Steubenville daily between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. at least through Monday. The contingency plan is needed because Steubenville’s current provider, Ambulance Service Inc., notified City Manager Jim Mavromatis that, because of temporary staffing issues, they won’t be able to cover the night shift for the next six days. “We need the manpower,” 5th Ward Councilman Willie Paul, chair of council’s finance committee, said. “I’m not alarmed, but it is reassuring to know we’ll have some kind of coverage.”
Steubenville Herald Star - Metered Site

New Castle woman trying to rescue cat, rescued by firefighters

A 24-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after being rescued from her burning home in New Castle early Wednesday. Just after midnight, firefighters were called to the home at 817 E. Lutton Street for a kitchen fire with several animals and one woman trapped on the second floor. The woman first escaped the flames but then returned to the home to retrieve her cat which she believed was in the attic. Smoke was so heavy the woman was unable to get back out and had to be rescued by firefighters. The woman was taken to the hospital where she is being treated for breathing too much smoke. Assistant Fire Chief Mike Kobe says the fire was a result of food cooking on the stove.
WFMJ-TV NBC 21 Youngstown

Warren fire leaves hundreds without power

More than 2,500 FirstEnergy customers remained in the dark just before 5 am following a fire in Warren. The fire was reported just before 2 a.m. Wednesday at an electrical substation behind the Jamestown Plaza on Mahoning Avenue NW. The first firefighters on the scene reported that the flames were huge. Three hours after the fire was reported power was still out in parts of Warren, Warren Township, Howland and Champion. FirstEnergy had power restored by 7 a.m.
WFMJ-TV NBC 21 Youngstown

Boardman: Firehouse Subs H2O for Heroes event collects bottled water

Firehouse Subs’ 8th annual H2O for Heroes bottled water collection drive is Saturday, August 3. Losing just 1.5 percent of the body’s average water content can cause mild dehydration. The average human loses as much as two quarts of water per day just through normal functions, including breathing, sweating and more. This increases substantially for firefighters and vulnerable citizens in life-threatening situations year-round, and especially during hot summer months. Each guest will receive a free medium sub in exchange for donating one 24-pack of bottled water, benefitting local fire and police departments, emergency victims, senior and community centers and more.
WYTV-TV ABC 33 Youngstown