The Fayette County Chamber Ambassadors chose

WCH FIRE DEPARTMENT as Business of the Month!!

Pictured: WCH Fire Department Staff: Left to right, Captain Jason O’Dierno, Administrative Assistant Dee West, Assistant Chief Jody Langley, Chief Tim Downing, Firefighter Stephen Yeoman, Firefighter Bill Micheal. Along with Tony Sanor (OSU Extension), Kristy Bowers (Chamber President), Kirstie Kocacay and Drew Dollich (Merchants National Bank), Ronda Turner (ERA Real Estate), Chelsie Baker (City of WCH), Debbie Bryant (United Way), Joel Menken (WCHO Radio), Lori Hatfield (Atomic Credit Union), Cynthia Grotsky (Grotsky Senior Insurance), Stephanie Duhnam (Travel & Tourism), Breanne Sines (First State Bank), Scott Eckles (Home Financial).

It is our mission to protect the lives and property of the people of our community from fires, natural disasters, and hazardous incidents; And to prevent fires through prevention and education programs. Our vision is “Protection through prevention.”

While we offer an all-hazards response, this is a small part of what we do. We offer fire and life safety education to all age groups, over multiple topics. The Fire Department offers Inspection and Community Risk Reduction Surveys.

Through our school programs, we identify homes in need of smoke alarms; Firefighters then install these detectors at no cost. Smoke alarms are provided through our partnerships with the Ohio State Fire Marshal and the Red Cross. For homes outside the Washington Court House jurisdictional area, we have partnered with the Fire Departments around the County. All of our surrounding departments help install smoke alarms in the homes we identify in their areas. This is a team effort that has already proven its worth.

Our personnel provide Youth Fire Setter Intervention Education when we identify a young person who has an interest in fire. We provide one-on-one classes for children and their families in need of a Little extra attention. These classes are tailored to meet the needs of the children and their families.

In addition to performing inspections and risk reduction surveys, our inspectors also review plans. We work with our local building officials to review plans for new and updated fire alarm and/or fire suppression systems. This only scratches the surface of what inspectors must look at during a plans review. With the assistance of our local building officials, our inspectors will review every safety aspect we can during a plans review. When the construction is completed, we then work with the local building officials to test these life safety systems.

Additionally, we have partnered with the National Fire Safety Council to raise money and provide fire safety materials for students in our school systems. For several years now, we have provided these materials to Washington Court House City Schools and Miami Trace Local Schools. In recent years, we have expanded to provide safety materials to Fayette Christian as well. This year, fall of 2024, due to the generosity of our community members, we will be providing fire safety materials to students from Pre-school to 5th Grade in these schools as well as The Early Learning Center. This program has been a great success, and it all starts with the citizens throughout the County who support it!

As you can see, we do a lot more than just put out fires. But more importantly, we do all of this work through partnerships with our surrounding fire departments, state and local agencies, school systems, and the generosity of our citizens. It is through this teamwork that we continue to improve the safety of our community and our County! We are grateful to be part of a County that supports our mission. Thank you!

– WCH Fire Department Staff

225 E Market St. WCH 43160

740-636-2362 (911 for emergencies)

Fire Chief, Tim Downing

Fun Fact: The first WCH fire engine was a Babock fire engine named “Leo”.

Welcome! We are working to help rebuild our businesses and overcome the hardships caused by the recent pandemic, we look forward to supporting you, our members!  We are focused on helping you meet the challenges you face, whether financial, managerial, regulatory, or otherwise.   Our mission remains the same: To advance the civic, economic, and social welfare of the people of Fayette County.  In the coming membership year, we will continue educational, networking, and sponsorship opportunities, provide access to member-only programs and discounts, facilitate safety council, and provide group rating discounts for health insurance and Workers’ Compensation.  Our goal will always be to give you value in your membership.  We humbly ask that you join us in membership again this year.

DRIVING FAYETTE COUNTY BUSINESS

To advance the civic, economic and social welfare of the people of Fayette County.