In The News

WEST CHESTER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVEN TO BE GREAT RESOURCE FOR WEST CHESTER BUSINESSES

July 9, 2025  |  West Chester Fire Department
Scott Brooks, West Chester Fire Department

West Chester Township residents, businesses and visitors benefit from a full-time professional Fire Department providing fire suppression and emergency medical services while focusing on prevention and education in the community.

The Township is served from five fully operational fire stations located throughout the community to provide efficient response times to all residents of the community.

Comprehensive mutual aid agreements with regional communities further enhance service to our own community. Mutual aid partners respond when added resources are required here and West Chester provides support to our neighboring communities. 

The West Chester Fire Department was organized in 1963 (then Union Township Fire Department). First served by a volunteer force, the Fire Department grew, along with the Township, into a well-trained and equipped professional department offering all-hazards response to the community.

Fire Chief Rick Prinz was appointed by the West Chester Board of Trustees in 2015. Chief Prinz and his team are committed to building and maintaining an elite team of professionals to offer the community exceptional service through thoughtful, deliberate and responsible allocation of resources.  

The West Chester Fire Department is funded by a voter-approved levy specifically for Fire & EMS.

The Fire Department responds to approximately 7,000 calls for diverse service annually.

There are five bureaus: Administrative Bureau, Operations Bureau, Risk Management Bureau, Emergency Medical Services and Loss Prevention. 

The West Chester Fire Department Loss Prevention Bureau focuses efforts on the preservation of life and the conservation of property for the residents and corporate citizens of West Chester Township, through prevention education, fire safety inspections, code enforcement and fire scene investigations.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration: buildings NOT subject to fire safety inspections are involved in 75 to 90 percent of structure fires, more than 95 percent of fire deaths, more than 90 percent of fire-related injuries, and 70 to 80 percent of property damage.

The Loss Prevention Bureau reviews construction documents for all new commercial construction in the Township and provides regulatory comments to ensure compliance with applicable safety codes. The Loss Prevention bureau performs annual fire and life safety inspections for each business, and will perform residential inspections by request. There are currently no fees associated with plan reviews, permit, or fire safety inspections.

The Loss Prevention Bureau also addresses issues related to fire hydrant maintenance annually with hydrant flushing and flow testing. The Loss Prevention Bureau and the Butler County Department of Environmental Services (water department) work closely to ensure damaged or leaking fire hydrants are quickly repaired.

The Loss Prevention Bureau is perhaps most visible in the community through its public education programs offered to children and adults. Topics, such as basic fire extinguisher operation and hazardous material mitigation, can be covered in adult-oriented programs.

The West Chester Fire Department works closely with businesses and residents to ensure fire codes are met. Inspections of commercial properties are completed regularly and the Fire Department welcomes the opportunity to schedule residential inspections, providing tips and guidelines for improving safety at home. Contact the Fire Department for information.

The West Chester Township Board of Trustees approved Resolution 16-2019 requiring the West Chester Fire Department to enforce the current edition of the State of Ohio Fire Code, including Appendices.