Chester Township Fire Rescue

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

As EMS Week 2026 nears a close, Chester Township Fire Rescue would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the dedicated EMS professionals who serve our community with compassion, professionalism, and dedication.

Thank you for the sacrifices you make, the lives you impact, and the care you provide to our residents and visitors each and every day.

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

Congratulations to the following members celebrating May service milestones:

Firefighter/ Paramedic James Valvoda (Left) – 3 Years
Firefighter/ Paramedic Bobby Wolf (Right) – 2 Year

Thank you all for your continued dedication and service to our community.

05/12/2026

Some may not know, but in Chester Township we do not have municipal water access, which means there are no traditional fire hydrants around town for fire department use in the event of a fire.

Instead, for firefighting operations we rely on specialty vehicles called tankers/water tenders that carry anywhere from 2,000–3,000 gallons of water, in addition to the fire engine that carries 1,000 gallons, to respond to fires and bring water to the scene. While this might sound like a lot of water, when a fire is large and large fire hoses or water monitors are used for extinguishment, we can easily flow over 1,000 gallons per minute.

In these situations, we count on our mutual aid departments to bring additional water to the scene, along with setting up fill sites at nearby ponds throughout town to refill empty apparatus so they can rotate back to the fire scene and deliver more water. Due to our location in the county, many of our mutual aid partners do have access to municipal water systems, so these rural water movement practices are used less frequently for them.

Today, our mutual aid partners from Kirtland Fire Department, Gates Mills Fire Department, and Willoughby Hills Fire Department joined Chester Township Fire Rescue crews for a hands-on training session focused on rural water supply operations. Crews reviewed and practiced drafting operations, tanker shuttle procedures, fill site setup, and coordinated water movement techniques that are critical to firefighting in areas without hydrant systems. Trainings like these help ensure all departments can work seamlessly together during large-scale incidents where a reliable and continuous water supply is essential.

We greatly appreciate the continued partnership, professionalism, and commitment shown by our neighboring departments. Opportunities like this multi-jurisdictional training allow crews to strengthen working relationships, improve operational coordination, and maintain readiness for emergencies throughout our communities. Thank you to all personnel who took the time to participate and help make this important training a success.

05/11/2026

Many members of Chester Township Fire Rescue take physical fitness very seriously, not only to be prepared for the physical demands of a challenging career in the fire service, but because they recognize that physical strength and endurance can make a critical difference during rescue operations and emergency response.

This past Saturday, three of our members, Adam Way (left), Lieutenant Marty Neary (second from left), and Sean O'Neill (center), took part in the OUTLAST trail endurance challenge.

OUTLAST is a 6 hour endurance race where participants complete a 5K trail lap every hour, on the hour, for six consecutive hours. Each lap must be completed within the hour to remain in the event. Finish early, and you recover until the next round begins. Miss a lap, and you’re out.

The event is designed to test not only speed, but also pacing, discipline, endurance, and mental toughness. The trail based course includes natural terrain, elevation changes, and unpredictable conditions, making it both physically and mentally demanding.

We are proud of our members for continuing to challenge themselves and for their commitment to maintaining the physical readiness necessary to serve our community.

05/05/2026

Congratulations to Chester Township Fire Rescue Firefighter EMT Mitchell King on being awarded the Chief Mike Warner Memorial Scholarship to assist with his tuition as he begins paramedic school.

Chief Mike Warner was a highly respected fire chief and proud U.S. Army veteran who dedicated his life to serving others. Mitchell stands in that same tradition of service as a Marine Corps veteran, having served with 1st Battalion 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. He deployed with a Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting humanitarian operations in Haiti following the devastating earthquake, while also training alongside allied forces in Africa and the Middle East. He later deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as a squad leader conducting combat operations and partnering with Afghan military and police forces.

We are proud to have Mitchell on our department and commend his continued commitment to service. Congratulations again, and best of luck as he advances his knowledge and career toward becoming a paramedic.

05/04/2026

Sperry Rd. Has been reopened

Sperry Rd. Has been reopened

See full article: https://app.govoutreach.com/chestertownshipoh/public/communications/64659

05/04/2026

Crews are currently on the scene of a truck rollover at the intersection of Sperry Rd. and Mayfield Rd. The truck is carrying concrete mix, and there are no significant leaks or hazards at this time.

Interstate is on scene coordinating the recovery of the truck. Our crew, along with the Geauga County Hazmat team, will remain on site as a precaution.

We will provide updates on the township app and here once the road has reopened.