Bath Township Fire Department responded to a report of a juvenile out on the ice in the middle of pond on the property of the Johnny Appleseed Park located at 1582 Slabtown Rd. at 8:49 A.M. on 1/28/20.

Deputies from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office arrived first and attempted to get the juvenile to return to the shore without success.

Upon arrival of Bath Township Fire Department personnel, a Bath firefighter donned a cold water rescue suit and was tethered to the shore with a rope retrieval system. The firefighter made his way out to the subject which was about 50 yards. The firefighter was able to talk to the juvenile and get him to agree to be assisted off of the ice without incident.

The subject was transported to Mercy St. Rita’s Medical Center by Lima Fire Department EMS.

No firefighters, EMS personnel, or law enforcement officials were injured.
Mutual aid was received from Lima Fire Department and Lafayette Jackson Twp. Fire Department.

Chief Joseph Kitchen said, “We are thankful that this very dangerous situation had a happy ending. Ice rescues are a high risk task for emergency personnel.” He further stated, “Great care should be taken before venturing out on any ice. Remember ‘no ice is safe ice’.”

Contact person: Joseph Kitchen, Fire Chief: 419-221-0550

Click to download press release .PDF –Media Release Water Rescue

The Bath Township Fire Department will hold its annual awards dinner and ceremony tonight, January 10, 2020, at 6:30 P.M. at Union Chapel Missionary Church (St. Rt. 81/ Thayer Rd).
Commendation awards will be presented to Bath Township personnel, such as Firefighter of the Year, EMS Provider of the Year, etc.
This year’s firefighter of the year is Platoon Chief Crystal Plumpe. Crystal began her career with Bath Township in September of 2005. Her fellow firefighters nominated her due to her commitment to training, education, and professional development. Additionally, they noted that she is dedicated to the safety of her crew. Crystal’s coworkers also noted the high standards she sets for herself and her dedication to our department.
The keynote speaker will be Ohio House Representative, Bob Cupp of Lima, Ohio.
Other winners include: Grant Schroeder as EMS Provider of the Year and Ashley Truesdale as Rookie of the Year. Angelo Fox takes home the Fitness Award and Curt Yetman is being recognized for Outstanding Training Attendance.
Please do not release award information until after 7:00 P.M.
Contact Person: Joseph Kitchen 419-221-0550

Click Here to Download Press Release .PDF

Bath Township Firefighter/Paramedics Curtis Yetman and Kevin Markward have obtained their certification as Hazmat – Weapons of Mass Destruction Technicians.

The class was conducted at the Shawnee Township Fire Department in Lima, Ohio.

Hazardous Materials Technician is a five-day course that prepares Operations-level responders for Technician-level Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) certification. This 40-hour course, based on NFPA 1072: Standard for Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications and NFPA 472 standards, provides participants with HAZMAT-specific response knowledge and skills, enabling them to respond safely and effectively to a suspected incident at the hazardous materials technician level.

They received hands-on training in donning and doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Levels A and B, containing leaks and drum over-packing, containing leaks in pressurized containers, and performing technical and mass decontamination. The course culminated with performance of these offensive-level tasks in which they applied the knowledge and skills learned in a simulated HAZMAT environment.

Yetman began his career at Bath Township in August of 2016 and Markward was hired in May of 2018. Both will now serve as Hazmat Technicians on the Allen County Hazmat Team.

Contact person: Chief Joseph Kitchen (419) 221-0550

Click to download press release .PDF –Media Release Hazmat 2019

Bath Township Fire Chief Joe Kitchen has been appointed by Governor DeWine to serve on his newly formed Ohio School Safety Working Group. 

Chief Kitchen will serve on behalf of the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association. 

Upon learning of his appointment, Chief Kitchen said, “I am pleased to have been chosen by the governor to help tackle this extremely urgent and important issue.  I look forward to helping find solutions to make our Ohio schools as safe as possible for both students and teachers.”

Governor DeWine called for the creation of the working group in August when announcing the development of the Ohio School Safety Center, a new statewide office focused on assisting educators and law enforcement in preventing, preparing for, and responding to threats and acts of violence, including self-harm. The working group, which will be led by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, will evaluate current issues regarding school safety and advise the Ohio School Safety Center on its work.

“Members of this working group all have a common goal of making Ohio’s schools as safe as they possibly can be,” said Governor DeWine. “I’m confident that this group will be a great asset as they work to promote a safe environment for Ohio’s school students and school employees.” 

Joseph L. Kitchen, Bath Township Fire Chief: 419-221-0550 

Click to download press release .PDF –Media Release Kitchen School Safety

On Saturday, December 13, 2019, Chief Joe Kitchen was inducted into the Bath Local Schools Hall of Fame.

This is the inaugural class of Hall of Fame recipients. The six inductees were Paulett Eberhart (’71), Robert Hempker (’66), Joe Kitchen (‘88), Vicki Mauk (’76), Gretchen Prichard (teacher, coach 1958-1997), and Jerry Ward (’60).

Chief Kitchen said, “I am deeply honored by this recognition and cannot adequately express my gratitude. I will work hard to be worthy of this distinction. Thank you to the many people who have supported me and advocated for me throughout my life.”

Joe Kitchen joined the Bath Township Fire Dept. in 1990, starting as a volunteer. He served six years as lieutenant, and was appointed Fire Chief in 2002. Chief Kitchen is a graduate of the Apollo Career Center Public Safety Program, and Rhodes State College. He holds degrees in both Emergency Medical Services and Fire Science. He is a Level II firefighter, paramedic, fire investigator, and a certified fire safety inspector. Additionally, he is a Hazmat Technician, an assistant fire service instructor, and an EMS continuing education instructor.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association where he chairs the Membership Committees and is a member of both the Health, Safety, and Wellness, and Marketing Committees.

Chief Kitchen is the past chairman of the EMS Advisory Committee at Rhodes State College. He also serves as a member of the Lima Allen County Safe Community Coalition, and he is the Allen County coordinator for the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Emergency Response Plan. He is the chairman of Allen County Regional Planning Safety Review Team and president of the Apollo Career Center Foundation. He also belongs to various other national, state, and local organizations.

Chief Kitchen is a member of the International Association of Fire Chief’s, National Fire Protection Agency, Vice-President of the Northwest Ohio Fire Chief’s Association, and served as President of the Allen County Fire Chief’s Association.

He believes strongly in the Rotary Club motto of “Service Above Self” and is an active member of the Lima club. Chief Kitchen serves as an advisor of the BHS Interact Club. He has dedicated much of his career to educating Bath students in the areas of fire prevention, safe driving, citizenship, and leadership. He is proud to be a Bath Wildcat and a member of the Bath Township community.

Contact information:

Joseph L. Kitchen, Bath Township Fire Chief: 419-221-0550

Click to download press release .PDF –Media Release Kitchen Hall of Fame 2019

The Bath Township Fire Department is pleased to announce that they have received $50,185.71

in funding from the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Bath Township is required to provide a 5% match in the amount of $2,509.29, for a total amount of $52,695.00 for the project.

The funds will be used to purchase extrication equipment and related rescue tools. This equipment is used to remove victims who are trapped in vehicles due to motor vehicle crashes.

Additionally, it is used for industrial and agricultural emergencies.

Chief Joe Kitchen said, “This grant will allow us to procure much needed tools and equipment to help our fire & EMS personnel to do their jobs as quickly and efficiently as possible. When seconds matter, these tools could make all the difference.”

The Department of Homeland Security is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.)

Contact information:

Joseph L. Kitchen, Bath Township Fire Chief: 419-221-0550 

Click to download press release .PDF –Media Release FEMA Grant 2019

Bath Township Fire Department personnel will be conducting spring fire hydrant maintenance and flushing on all township hydrants beginning Thursday, May 16, 2019. Testing will last about three to four weeks.

Residents may notice discoloration of water when the flushing takes place in their neighborhood. If you experience a discoloration of water, turn on your plumbing fixtures until the water runs clear. It is best to run an outdoor fixture, or a cold-water tap in a laundry tub or bathtub first until the water runs clear and then run water from other fixtures.

The fire department realizes that hydrant flushing may cause some inconvenience, however, the flushing program is necessary to maintain a good water supply for firefighting and to ensure that the hydrants are in good working order. The community’s cooperation with the annual fire hydrant flushing program is greatly appreciated.

Contact information:
Joseph L. Kitchen, Bath Township Fire Chief: 419-221-0550
Denny Wilkins, Road Supervisor: 419-221-1797

At 11:41 AM on Sunday, April 28, 2019, the Bath Twp. Fire Department responded to the Dana Corporation at 777 Bible Rd. Lima Ohio, 45801 for a report of a structure fire.

Upon arrival firefighters, were told by employees that a fire had started in a piece of equipment and had spread to the ceiling of the building.

Bath firefighters had the fire contained within approximately 15 minutes. The plant was fully evacuated per its internal safety procedures.

There were no injuries to Dana employees or responding firefighters.

Lima Fire Department was called for mutual aid for their ladder truck. Units were on the scene for approximately an hour.

Contact – Chief Joseph Kitchen – 419-221-0550

Bath Township Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 report of a mobile home on fire this morning at 1912 E. Elm St. Lot #30, Lima, Ohio 45804.

Upon arrival, units observed heavy fire and smoke conditions. The trailer is owned by Offenbacher MHC LLC., of Wapakoneta, Ohio and was being leased by David Gipson. No one was home at the time of the fire.

The trailer home is total loss with an estimated value of 5,000.00 to the structure and $10,000 to the contents. Mr. Gipson advised that he did not have renter’s insurance. All of the interior contents of the trailer were destroyed by the fire.

The family of two adults and eight children is being assisted by the Allen County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

No occupants or firefighters were injured. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time and remains under investigation.

Bath Township Fire Department crews remained on the scene for about two hours.

Contact person: Joseph Kitchen, Fire Chief: 419-221-0550

Bath Township Fire Department responded to a second alarm structure fire located at 1201 Neubrecht Road, Lima, Ohio, in Bath Township at 9:06 P.M., on 4/4/19. This address is the location of the former Lima Inn Motel which has been closed for about two years.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy smoke and flames coming from two of the motel rooms on the rear of the building.

The rooms involved suffered heat, smoke, and water damage. It took firefighters about 1 and ½ hours to fully extinguish the fire which was reported by a passerby who dialed 9-1-1.

The property is owned by 1201 Neubrecht Rd Property LLC of Mentor, Ohio. Fire department officials have been unable to contact the owners but have confirmed that the property is uninsured.

The fire department has responded to this location due to the building being on fire on several previous occasions over the past year. Bath Twp. Fire Department officials have been working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigative Bureau and the Blue Ribbon Arson Commission.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation, and is considered to be suspicious. Anyone with information about the fire should call the fire department at 419-221-0550 or Lima/Allen County Crime Stoppers at 419-229-7867

No fire department personnel were injured.

Contact person: Joseph Kitchen, Fire Chief: 419-221-0550