St. Joe Township Fire Department starts new year with new leadership

ALLEN CO., Ind. (WANE) - As of Tuesday, the St. Joe Township Fire Department has transitioned into a new department, with a new name and chief.

Richard Uhrick, St. Joe Township Trustee, named Timothy Jones as the new fire chief of the St. Joe Township Fire Rescue Corp.

"Tim's experience and qualifications are impressive," said Uhrick. "He's easily one of the most well credentialed Fire Chief's to ever serve St. Joseph Township."

On December 20, the St. Joseph Township Board approved a contract with this new fire corporation for the purpose of reorganizing fire protection services for the residents of St. Joe Township. Chief Amy Biggs, with the Fort Wayne Fire Department, said even with the change over, she doesn't expect any changes in the working relationship she has with the department.

"We're looking forward to this new partnership as we have with any other partnership within the community," she said.

Many St. Joe Township community members are still upset over the change, and Chief Biggs understands why.

"In the early 80's and even into the 90's, was a very outstanding, well, organized, high membership volume, and they take a lot of pride as a lot of fire departments do," Biggs said.

We've received reports that the new department wasn't responding to calls, that other departments were responding instead. NewsChannel 15 called the Allen County Sheriff's Department and spoke with Chief Biggs, and they said they haven't had to responded to the Saint Joe area since the transition.

Uhrick said the new department is ready to go and has firefighters ready to respond.

According the fire department's website , the department is seeking volunteer firefighters.