Trustee Decision Hard for Firefighters

The locks are already changed at the Muskingum Township Fire Department. A decision made by Muskingum Township trustees Thursday night has disbanded the volunteer fire department.

In place, paid Falls Township firefighters will be responding to calls from the station. Trustees say that the reasons for their decision have to do with providing a faster response time to emergencies.

"We’ve decided to disband our fire department and go into contract with Falls Township Volunteer Fire Department and the biggest reason is the response time, better management. Falls is going to take over the management of the fire department plus provide EMS service for us, " says Township Trustee, Jerry Miller.

Miller says that having a paid staff on station will provide a quicker response time. This decision does however affect Muskingum Township firefighters.

"The firefighters understandably they’re a little bit upset with the decision that the trustees made last night at the meeting but we’re looking at the 3,800 people in this township and their well-being and their safety is what we’re looking for and we feel with paid staff from Falls will help provide that better response time for the township residents," says Miller.

Muskingum Township firefighter, Troy Lowe, calls the situation frustrating and untimely. He says that there are still firefighters trying to recover from the school bus tragedy, and this has come at a bad time. He adds that Muskingum Township was trying to join with Licking Township Fire Department, but instead, trustees disbanded the department and put falls township on the job. The trustee-appointed-fire chief was not present for the vote last night.