Bath Township fire chief to lead statewide organization

Jul. 31—COLUMBUS — Joe Kitchen, chief of the Bath Township Fire Department, was sworn in July 24 as the 95th president of the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association.

Kitchen said that during his two-year term, he will focus on training, education, legislative advocacy and professional development for Ohio's fire service leaders. A priority area will be addressing the workforce needs of the state's volunteer, part-time and career fire and emergency medical services.

"The fire service in Ohio is in crisis. Volunteers are drying up, and candidates for paid positions are becoming few and far between," Kitchen said. "We will lead the charge to identify and address these workforce issues in an impactful manner."

A member of the fire service for 34 years, Kitchen has served as fire chief in Bath Township for 22 years. He is state certified as a Firefighter 2, paramedic, fire safety inspector and Assistant Fire and EMS instructor.