WALBRIDGE, Ohio — The Lake Township Fire Department will be getting a new fire chief, after the retirement of the department's longstanding chief Bruce Moritz.
Barrett Dorner, fire chief for the Portage Fire District and a private in the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department, announced on Facebook Tuesday night his appointment to head the township's fire department.
Dorner is leaving his TFRD position, as well as his PFD position following a transition "in the next month or so."
"This will allow me to focus 100% on LTFD as we grow and find solutions to the demands of the modern fire and EMS service," Dorner said.
According to his LinkedIn, Dorner has served as a TFRD private since September 2013 and as PFD fire chief since September 2021.
In the post, Dorner said he's found his place in fire service in Lake Township, which sits in the northeastern corner of Wood County. He also thank Moritz and Lake Township administrator and police chief Mark Hummer for their trust and support
"I'm going to work hard to earn the same from the firefighters, and I'm grateful I've had the opportunity to meet many of them in training and on calls," Dorner said.
Lake Township, just south of Toledo, has two villages -- Millbury and Walbridge -- and two unincorporated communities -- East Lawn and Moline. According to U.S. Census data, the township had an estimated population of about 11,200 people in 2021.
Lake Township leaders have also been discussing a merger of area departments to consolidate resources and form a legitimate city.
The idea is still in its infancy though. Hummer and Walbridge Mayor Ed Kolanko said it will take at least two to three years before voters will see anything on a ballot, with numerous studies still needed before moving forward.