Fire Chief John Donahue

No stranger to Washington Township, we are thrilled to reintroduce John L. Donahue, who is officially taking over as Fire Chief of Washington Township Fire Department.

The last two years have been an exciting time for Donahue while becoming prepared for this new role. As Assistant Fire Chief, he immersed himself in the day-to-day duties, met the crews, helped purchase new apparatus, and became more involved within the Dublin community. Now he’s ready to continue the work that was started by leaders before him to build for WTFD’s future.

“Coming into the department, I knew we had a top-notch department with an ISO Class 1 rating,  International Accreditation, and amazing leaders in the field. We have FF/Paramedics with the foremost level of skills and training, as well as various programs they teach to other fire departments including technical rescue,” Donahue said. “Where I see us going is to continue our current focus as a department, but more so to implement our succession plan that guarantees our ability to continue to serve the community at the highest level possible.” 

Throughout his career in the fire service industry, Donahue has been a part of many fire departments. When asked what sets Washington Township Fire Department apart from others, the answer was simple. “We deliver such a high level of care as well as have such a love for the community,” he shared. “And it’s reciprocated in the love the community gives back to our fire department,” he continued. “I've seen and heard first-hand about our crews going above and beyond in the field and that’s simply phenomenal.”

One of his first tasks as Fire Chief will be selecting his replacement for Assistant Fire Chief and will continue to make sure the lines of communication remain open. “This is not MY fire department. This is YOUR fire department-the city of Dublin and Washington Township.”

Donahue’s goal for the department is clear.

“Our department works incredibly hard and I want to see us ensure that the fire department goals meet the expectations of not only the political entities but also the expectations of our residents and business owners. If they are misaligned, we aren’t doing our job,” he said.  “We want to ensure that our goals, the community goals, and how we spend our resources are all equal.”

Lastly, Fire Chief Donahue wishes to share his immense gratitude to the community for its continual support. “The station visits, online support, our annual flower sales…Every bit counts!”

Here’s to you, Chief!