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COLERAIN TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES G. BRUCE SMITH, DIRECTOR AND CHIEF IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT SMOKEDETECTORS!
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The Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS serves the largest township in Ohio. Colerain Township measures 43.5 square miles, abutting the northwest corner of Cincinnati, and serves over 60,000 residents. The Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS, formed in 1975 through the combination of two volunteer departments then serving the area, remains one of the largest and busiest suburban departments in the state. Prior to 1975, the Groesbeck Fire Department, which began in 1931, and the Dunlap Fire Department, in 1954, provided fire protection in Colerain Township. Both volunteer departments were highly regarded in the southwest portion of the state. As Colerain Township began to realize significant growth, it became apparent that one fire department could better suit the needs of the township. in 1975 the Groesbeck and Dunlap departments merged, forming the Colerain Township Fire Department under the direction of Chief Cloyce "Corky" Snyder. the "new" department consisted of eight full-time employees, including Chief Snyder and many volunteer firefighters who were the backbone of the department. The Colerain Township Fire Department functioned well form its onset under this system. The department maintained the high regard that was afforded the Groesbeck and Dunlap departments. Residents and businesses of the township received the best fire suppression, fire prevention, and EMS that was available at the time. During this time the completion of I-275 (Cincinnati's circle freeway) brought rapid and significant growth to the once predominantly rural community. The township expanded its two-station fire department to four, which better served the expanding community. While Township growth continued into the 1980's, retaining volunteer firefighters and EMT's became increasingly difficult. Chief Snyder and his staff pursued various options to remedy the staffing situation. The chosen option consisted of staffing the station 24 hours a day with a combination of career and part-time personnel. During mid 1984, Colerain's volunteer system was disbanded and staffing of the stations was around the clock with part-time and career employees. Volunteers who wished to retain their status with department were now considered part-time employees of the Township. Stations would be staffed 24 hours a day, in contrast to responding tot he firehouse from home, as was the case with the volunteer system. This form of staffing ensured adequate personnel, as well as a more timely response to emergency scenes. Colerain was one of the initial departments in Ohio to utilize this form of staffing; a system that still works ell for the department today. Chief Snyder's strong leadership continued moving the department in an upward direction until his retirement in 1986. Upon Chief Snyder's retirement, Assistant Chief Bruce Smith was appointed Director and Chief of the department. From a membership of approximately 75 in 1986, the department grew to over 100 by 1989. In May of 1989, paramedics were added to the department's EMS division. The department's EMS, previously operating with advanced EMT's, was upgraded to include six career firefighter paramedics. The addition to the career staff, bringing the total to 17, would ensure continuous medic coverage to the township. From the program's inception, Colerain's ALS (advanced life support) units continue to remain the second busiest in Hamilton County, next to the City of Cincinnati. Due to growth of the community, in October of 2004 a 5th fire station opened at the corner of Kemper Road and Pippin Road. It houses a front line engine, water tanker, a back up squad, rescue boat and the Hamilton County Hazardous Materials response truck. In 2006 Colerain Township Fire Department continues to move forward and remains strong. In 2006 there were 2,788 fire response runs and 5,956 EMS response runs. With the 5 stations there are 5 first out engines, 1 spare engine, 1 110' ladder, 2 water tankers, 1 heavy rescue, 2 rescue boats, 4 front line squads, 3 back up squads, 2 paramedic units and the Hamilton County Hazardous Materials response truck. All 5 fire stations are open 24 hours 7 days a week. There are 53 career firefighter/paramedics (this includes all officers), 1 career mechanic, 1 career administrative assistant and 110 part-time firefighters/EMT/paramedics. Bruce Smith continues to serve as the Director and Chief with Joe Silvati and Deputy Chief. There are two assistant chiefs, a battalion chief for each shift (there are 3 24 hour rotations), two division chiefs (training and EMS), and a captain for each shift for each station. Along with making emergency responses, Colerain Township Fire Department has an extensive training division, public safety division (which includes fire inspections and public education), fire investigation unit, vehicle repair and maintenance garage, and citizen's fire academy. Please open the links at the top of the page to learn more about each of these divisions of the fire department.
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