Fire Department History

The St. Clair Township Fire Department was formed in January of 1982 when the Overpeck Fire Department and Williamsdale Fire Department merged forming the township fire department.  When this merger occurred, Williamsdale Fire Chief Dan Bubemyre became the fire chief of the newly created St. Clair township fire department.   Prior to this merger, both the Overpeck and Williamsdale fire departments divided the township in half for fire response coverage.  It became apparent to merge these two departments to provide more efficient and effective service to the residents of St. Clair Township.   

The St. Clair Township Fire Department is governed by the St. Clair Township Board of Trustees.  Our fire department consists of 28 firefighters who are dedicated to saving lives and property, as well as serving this great community.  The St. Clair Township Fire Department provides fire suppression, fire inspection and fire prevention/public education services as well as operations level rescue and hazmat services.  Our fire department does not provide EMS services; however, we work closely with the St. Clair Township/New Miami Life Squad, of which is also governed by the St. Clair Township Trustees. 

 

Fire Chief Bubemyre served as the St. Clair Township Fire Department Fire Chief from January 1982 to March 1989.  Prior to this, Chief Bubemyre was the Fire Chief of the Williamsdale Fire Department from January of 1972 until the merger with the Overpeck Fire Department.  Chief Bubemyre was instrumental in implementing a successful merger plan with the Overpeck Fire Department.  During his township Fire Chief tenure, the St. Clair Township Fire Department’s station was in Williamsdale on the corner of St. Clair and Center Street.  Chief Bubemyre was also very mechanically inclined and not only worked on but welded and fabricated many of the parts and accessories for the fire trucks during his tenure.  Chief Bubemyre, with the help of the Williamsdale Improvement Association purchased a 1984 GMC truck that they built as a brush truck.

 

Fire Chief Ernie Lenos served as Fire Chief from March 1989 to 1997.  During his tenure, the department purchased the first ever new custom built fire engine, a 1990 Sutphen Pumper.  In 1994 the first custom built Sutphen/Engle water tanker was purchased, which is still in service today.  This same year, the department was able to purchase a set of hydraulic extrication tools, commonly referred to as the “Jaws of Life.”  This set of extrication tools was retired in March of 2023 after 29 years of service.

 

Fire Chief Terry White served as Fire Chief from 1997 to 2014.  During his tenure, the fire department purchased the 2008 Sutphen pumper still in use today along with a 1997 GMC Suburban that is also still in service today.  He spear-headed the construction of the present fire station on Hamilton-Trenton Road that was constructed in 2000.  Chief White was instrumental in successful grant applications awarded by the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant that included new turnout gear personal protective equipment (PPE) in 2003, new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in 2007, and a diesel exhaust particulate removal system for the fire station in 2009.

 

Fire Chief Larry T. Anglin is the present Fire Chief.   During his tenure the fire department purchased the 2019 Ford F450 Brush Truck, the 2023 Darley Fire Pumper and the 2024 Chevrolet Truck used as the Chief’s command vehicle.  Chief Anglin has also been instrumental in successful grant applications awarded by the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant that includes a PPE Washer/Extractor and Dryer in 2018 and new SCBA in 2022.