Jefferson Twp. Fire Chief resigns

BOWERSVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - Linley Liming has been with the Jefferson Township Fire Department for 28 years, 4 of those as Chief.
He handed in his resignation at the Township Trustees meeting Wednesday night.

"The stress that has been brought upon me from dealing from issues and trying to boost this department forward and feeling like that I didn't get the support I should've had,"says Liming.

He's upset that the trustees have decided to outsource help on EMT runs to surrounding fire departments in Silvercreek and New Jasper Townships.

"When you take at a look at paying another department to cover your squad runs, why can't you pay your own people that money?" asks Liming.

But, Trustee Mark Klinger says they don't have the manpower for that.

"Just, you know, come and help us out and volunteer."

Now with a fire department staff of only 6, people who live here, like Robert Schmucker, are scared for their safety.  He's had seven heart attacks and knows that  those extra few minutes can be a matter of life or death.

"It does not make me feel safe because if I have another heart attack and it takes New Jasper or Silvercreek 6 or 7 minutes or maybe even longer compared to having someone close to this station, 2 or 3 minutes.  That could make a big difference in a heart attack," comments Schmucker.

Trustees tell 2 News they will now appoint a temporary fire chief and look at entering into a regional fire district with neighboring communities, which could lead to the closure of the Fire Department in Jefferson Township.