LIVERPOOL TOWNSHIP – For the Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department, 2025 was a challenging but transformative year.

Challenges brought about by a major staffing change with former chief Dave Ward’s resignation and the promotion of Firefighter Jacob Russell to chief were met with transformation in the department through education and training and the creation of two training officer positions leading to other promotions.

Firefighter Paul Bahen was promoted to lieutenant, and firefighters Ayden Beaver and Justin Tatsch were promoted to the newly created position of training officer.

The training officer positions were recently created by Russell after obtaining approval from the Liverpool Township Board of Trustees. The purpose behind creating the training officer’s position, according to Russell during a trustees meeting, is to help the firefighters address the things they are not comfortable with on the job. The firefighters will discuss what they feel they need more training in or what skills they feel they need to develop further, and it will be up to the training officers to put together training to address these needs and further advance the education and skills of the firefighters.

Some of the trainings completed by firefighters in 2025 include Hazmat Awareness Training, several firefighters pursuing their Firefighter 1 (FF1) training and Russell completing the Fire Inspector class due to the demand for inspections needed in the township. Russell said that this would cut down on outsourcing inspections.

The fire department currently has 20 volunteer firefighters who receive $10 per call out for fuel reimbursement and the fire chief who is paid a monthly salary. The department gained nine new firefighters in 2025.

While the department is not currently facing a staffing shortage, Russell said the department is always urging people in the community who want to make a difference to join them. The firefighters are at the department every Tuesday at 7 p.m. for anyone who is interested in joining.

“I can’t stress enough as fire chief the difference each fireman makes,” Russell said. “They are all very vital to the everyday operations of this fire department as well as our three trustees that I am proud to call my coworkers.”

Russell has been proactive in seeking grants to help replace equipment and gear. For 2025, the department received a $40,000 grant through the state fire marshal’s office for MARCS radios and a $1,000 grant through OTARMA for safety equipment.

“We are also currently pursuing three other grants in hopes to continue growing as a department and making it safer,” Russell said.

The department responded to 142 calls in 2025 as of Dec. 4. They had four structure fires in the township and provided mutual aid for 14 structure fires. They responded to four false alarms, three car fires, nine brush fires, 17 good intent calls, 22 hazardous conditions, 25 rescues, 42 public service calls and seven severe weather calls.

Russell said there were no notable spikes or declines in fire calls.

“2025 was a challenging year for the Liverpool Township Fire Department,” Russell said. “However, we all stuck together and overcame the challenges we faced together, continuing to protect and serve the community we love and call our home.”

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com