Fire

Brian Wright Named Next Middletown Fire Chief

Chief Brian Wright Selection PhotoMIDDLETOWN, Ohio – Middletown City Manager Ashley Combs has selected Middletown Division of Fire Deputy Chief Brian Wright to serve as the next Middletown Fire Chief. Wright will succeed Chief Tom Snively, who will be retiring in the coming weeks.

“With 23 years of dedicated service to the Middletown Division of Fire, Deputy Chief Wright brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and leadership to this role,” City Manager Combs said. “I am confident he will serve the organization and the community with excellence.”

Wright began with the Middletown Division of Fire in 2002, rising through the ranks of squadperson, lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief. Through these roles, he has led as a company officer with a focus on fire suppression and emergency medical services (EMS), later transitioning into a role within EMS Operations. As a captain, Wright oversaw EMS operations budget. Additionally, Wright played a critical role in the Division of Fire receiving the prestigious Ohio State of Life Award for life-saving efforts.

“I am truly honored and deeply humbled by the opportunity to represent the City of Middletown, our community, and the dedicated men and women of this outstanding organization,” Wright said. “I’m excited to lead our department into the future with pride and purpose.”

Wright holds numerous certifications, including Fire Officer I, II, III, and IV, State of Ohio Paramedic, Fire Safety Inspector, and Fire & Emergency Services Instructor. His technical rescue expertise includes hazardous material, confined space, rope rescue, and ice water rescue operations. Additionally, Wright completed the Company Officer Leadership Symposium (COLS) through the Southwest Ohio Fire Chiefs. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Command of Multi-Alarm Incidents course in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Most notably, he recently completed the Ohio Fire Executive (OFE) program—a rigorous 2.5-year master’s-level leadership program administered by the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association.

Beyond his professional duties, Wright is deeply committed to the community. He has served on the Middletown Fire Union Local 336 Golf Committee, which has raised and donated over $30,000 to support the Middie Way Baseball Program, directly benefiting local youth.

Wright earned a degree in fire science from Eastern Gateway Community College, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He is also a graduate of nearby Talawanda High School.

A New Ladder Truck for City of Middletown Fire Department

The City of Middletown Division of Fire accepted delivery of a shiny red ladder truck this week. The new apparatus comes after 15 months in the works in designing and building it. The Fire Department purchased the new aerial ladder truck due to an aging and over extended service of the current vehicles. 

Sutphin Corporation built the SPH 100 Aerial Platform using a unique design with a five-person cab, 500-gallon water tank, a number of specialty lights, and a host of additional tools to assist firefighters working on the scene of an emergency. 

The truck has been on display at the Firehouse Expo at the Columbus Convention Center in September. 

The new fire truck will be part of the City’s Touch A Truck event on October 27 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

New Ariel ladder truckNew Ariel ladder truckNew Ariel ladder truckNew Ariel ladder truck

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Ohio DNR and Ohio EPA Restrict Open Burns

Ohio Revised Code 1503.18 Ohio DNR Forestry prohibits outdoor open burning and prescribed fires in the months of March, April, May, October, and November between 6am and 6pm. This ban includes burning of yard waste, trash, and debris, even in a proper burn barrel.

Even outside the time and date restrictions, any person conducting a burn must obtain landowner permission, remain with the fire while it is burning, and take all reasonable precautions to prevent the fire from escaping.

Contact Ohio Division of Forestry 1-877-247-8733.

Ohio Administrative Code 3745.19 is enforced by the Ohio EPA. Notification is required for many types of open burns in Ohio.

NEVER to be burned at any time or any place in Ohio:

  • Food waste
  • Dead animals
  • Materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, or made from petroleum

Other Restrictions:

  • Fires must be more than 1000 feet from neighbor’s inhabited building
  • No burning when air pollution alert, warning, or emergency is in effect
  • Fire/smoke cannot obscure visibility on roadway, railways, or airfields
  • No waste generated off the premises may be burned
  • No burning within village or city limits or restricted areas

Contact Ohio EPA: (614) 644-2270 or Ohio EPA Open Burning.

Staffing


The Middletown Division of Fire (MFD) is a full-time career organization consisting of 82 paid personnel serving both staff support and operation functions. The staff support consists of eight personnel: the fire chief, assistant fire chief, one fire operations captain, one fire prevention captain, one EMS operations captain, two staff lieutenants, and a civilian administrative assistant. The 74 remaining personnel form a three platoon, 24-hour, seven day operations force. A shift commander oversees four stations, consisting of fire and emergency medical response personnel, who provide fire suppression response and emergency medical services; along with other technical rescue services to the City of Middletown, as well as public safety education, fire prevention, fire investigation and cause determination.

Services


The division provides fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and other technical rescue services to the city of Middletown, Ohio as well as public safety education, fire prevention, investigation and cause determination.

Annual Reports


Look through the Middletown Division of Fire Department annual reports.
View the Most Current Annual Report (PDF) | View All Annual Reports


Related Documents

  1. Open Burning Policy (PDF)
  2. Middletown Fire Strategic Plan 2017 (PDF)