7383 Fulton Drive NW
Jackson Township, Ohio 44646

Telephone: 330-834-3950
Fax: 330-834-3958
Emergency Dispatch: 911

Safety Center Office Hours
M-F: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Sat-Sun: CLOSED

Important Downloads

2019 Year End Report

2020 Year End Report

Fire Department History

Prior to 1940, there was no fire protection in Jackson Township.  Between the years of 1940 and 1952, the communities of Willowdale Lake and Lake O'Springs purchased a trailer mounted fire pump, hose, nozzles and a two hundred (200) gallon Ford Chemical truck.

April 1952

In April 1952, a meeting was called for any persons interested in forming a fire department for the community.  The meeting was held at the Lake Cable Clubhouse with more than 40 individuals showing interest in helping to form a new department.  Those individuals started state fire training with the beginning classes having between 40 and 45 in attendance.  By the time the class concluded in September of 1952, the numbers had dwindled to just twenty two (22) volunteers.  This body organized the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department Number 1 to be housed in the Lake Cable area.

October 1952

On October 11, 1952 the Jackson Township Board of Trustees agreed to accept two plats in the Lake Cable area from Dueber S. Cable for the construction of a fire station.  On November 29, 1952 the Jackson Township Board of Trustees authorized advertising for a new fire engine.

1952-1953

Over the winter of 1952-53, the volunteers canvassed the township soliciting donations to build a fire station.  In the spring of 1952, construction was started.  By far the majority of the labor was performed by the new volunteers using the funds and donated material to build a three bay facility.  The building was completed in August 1953.  On August 29, 1953 the Jackson Township Board of Trustees agreed to accept the new fire truck plus "extra" equipment order for a total of $13,660. 

October 1953

The new department responded to their first fire call on October 13, 1953, which was a swamp fire on Huckleberry Road.  Their first building fire was on December 10, 1953 on Everhard Road "west of Wise".  This fire did approximately $1,500 damage.

1958

In 1958, a second station in the township was started.  It was constructed by the same means as Station 1, using the volunteers for the labor and donated materials.  The Jackson Township Board of Trustees provided some funding to assist the final construction of this facility.  The station was completed in 1960 and a 1955 pumper from Station 1 was relocated to this station.

1960

The first Fire Protection Levy for the department was placed on the ballot in November 1960 for .5 mill and was successfully passed.  Some of the funds generated from this levy were used to purchase an 85-foot ladder truck.  In February 1963, the new ladder was delivered by railroad from the American LaFrance Company in Elmira, New York.  This vehicle was removed from service in 1997.

1962

With the formation of a second fire station, no individual had been named as an overall Fire Chief.  The Board of Trustees addressed this issue on November 21, 1962, naming William R. Schmader as the first Township Fire Chief, responsible for the operations of the fire service within the township.

1964

In the beginning, the volunteers performed all their duties, training and special projects to the community for a compensated fee of $1 per year.  In January 1964, the Board of Trustees raised the "annual" pay for Firefighters to $15, Captains $25, Assistant Chiefs $65, Station Chiefs $75 and the Township Fire Chief received $250.

1967

In 1967, Chief Schmader retired and the Board of Trustees appointed Harold "Ted" Hardgrove as Fire Chief.
 
Although the township had been expanding residentially through the years, it began to experience major commercial development in the eastern section of the community in the late 1960's, which has continued into the new century.  This expansion and population growth casued additional alarms for the fire department, resulting in the inability of volunteers to respond to all calls and the need for additional fire service was evident.

1970

In 1970, Trustees contracted to have Station 3 constructed.  By October of that year, volunteers had completed training and began answering alarms. 
 
Station 4 followed in 1972 on land donated by the Higbee Company on Belden Village Avenue and was staffed with volunteers.

1972-1976

On January 15, 1972, Ted Heck, then a volunteer Captain with the department, was appointed as the Township's first full-time firefighter with the rank of Deputy Chief.  By the middle of 1972, five more firefighters had been hired to assist the then 80 volunteer firefighters in responding to alarms.  These new full-time firefighters responded out of Station 1.
 
Chief Hardgrove served as Chief until his retirement in 1975.  On December 1, 1975, the Trustees made the position of Fire Chief full-time and appointed Ted Heck to fill the vacancy.  Chief Heck served the Township in this capacity until his retirement on March 11, 2011.  In July 1976, additional hiring brought the full-time force to 15 personnel.  This force became one of the first groups of firefighters in the county who were also certified by the State of Ohio as Paramedics. 
 
In 1976, a full-time Fire Inspector was hired in the department for the purpose of conducting fire inspections, review plans for new commercial/business construction, conduct educational programs and perform fire investigations.  Through the years, the Bureau has expanded and is an integral part of the fire service of Jackson. 

1986

In 1986, it was decided that Station 4 should be converted from a volunteer force to a full-time crew.  It was also recognized that the existing Station 4 was not sufficient to permit this type of operation and the Trustees built a new facility on Dressler Road.  Old Station 4 was sold.
 
Again, the newly hired full-time firefighters were certified as Paramedics.  This practice of cross training firefighters as paramedics has continued to the present time with all full-time Firefighters and Captains required to be paramedics.

1992 - 1994

In 1992, Station 2 was remodeled and full-time firefighters were assigned to this building.  The same action followed in 1994 for Station 3, which was also remodeled.

2001-2003

In 2001, Trustees approved the construction of a Safety Center, which would provide facilities for the Police Department, the relocation of Fire Station 1, offices for the Fire Prevention Bureau and Administrative offices for both Police and Fire Department officials.  The Safety Center was opened in February 2003, at the corner of Wales Avenue and Fulton Drive.
 
Again, keeping pace with the growth of the Township, a fifth fire station was constructed at the intersection of Hills & Dales Road and Everhard Road and staffed with full-time personnel.   It opened on October 18, 2003.  Trustees, looking to the future needs of its citizens, purchased land at the intersection of Portage Street and Lutz Avenue for a future fire station.

2011 - 2021

 

 

 

In March, 2011, Tracy Hogue took over as the fire chief with the retirement of Ted Heck after 39-years.  As a lifelong resident of the township, Chief Hogue was well suited to step in; he had spent several years overseeing the Fire Prevention Bureau, which put him in contact with many of the community businesses and involved in most of the development and growth that has taken place throughout the township.

 

2021 - Present

 

In March, 2021, Tim Berczik stepped into the role as fire chief.  Just like his predecessor, Chief Berczik grow up and graduated in Jackson Township.  After serving 8-years in the U.S. Air Force, he returned home and continued to serve others as a member of our department.  He too, spent several years oversee the fire prevention bureau before becoming the fire chief.  Working with other leaders through the community, as well as the department, he is leading the organization back to some sort of new ‘norm’.

 

Through the years the Jackson Township Fire Department has strived to improve its services to the community.  This has been reflected not only in the expansion of facilities but in the training its firefighters have obtained which is directly reflected in the Fire Department's ability to obtain a Class 2 insurance rating.  This rating has resulted in lower insurance premiums paid for fire insurance coverage.

Consistent with the rest of the county, the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic hit Jackson Township pretty hard.  The firefighter/paramedics dealt with the continuous changes and issues.  Everything from the use of personal protective equipment, station and vehicle decon procedures, to the cancellation of safety programs were challenges for all.  Firefighters deal with adversity better than most people and we are glad to hopefully be on the downside of this ordeal.

 

 

 

As of June, 2021, the Jackson Township Fire Department consists of five full-time fire stations, 67 full-time and 31 part-time firefighters, who answer more than 6,500 calls annually.  We operate four 1500 GPM pumpers, a 100+ foot 1500 GPM aerial tower, a 50 foot 1500 GPM quint (pumper), six paramedic equipped ambulances, a 3,000 gallon tanker, a heavy rescue vehicle, grass truck, boat and all-terrain vehicle.  The department is blessed to be supported finically by both a 7.5 mill levy and EMS transport dollars.