By Hannah Poling
Staff Writer
Pleasant Township Fire Chief Brian Taylor will retire on May 27.
After eight years of service to Pleasant Township, Fire Chief Brian Taylor has decided to retire.
Taylor’s father was an officer at the volunteer fire department in Cortland, Ohio so Taylor grew up around the station.
“I cut my teeth on fire trucks,” said Taylor.
At 12, Taylor started running the radio and answering the phone at the department. When he was 16, he became a junior firefighter. He learned how to use turn out gear and did training with the department. At 18, he took his 36-hour course in firefighter training and then a course in EMT.
Taylor went to school to become a paramedic and then became employed full-time with Bazetta Township Fire Department where he remained for 17 years. Taylor quickly advanced in rank, joined the Marion County Fire Department in 2014, and then finally settled into his role as the Pleasant Township Fire Chief in 2016.
Taylor decided to retire and has accepted a position with a different fire department in a different role.
“It feels like the timing is right,” said Taylor. “It’s time for me to let someone else accomplish some things.”
Taylor said that even though he is the chief, nothing would have been accomplished without the staff or the support of the Pleasant Township trustees. He said he is most proud of the department installing smoke detectors in nearly all the homes in the community.
“My greatest accomplishment has been making homes safer,” he said.
Taylor’s last day with the department will be May 27. No one has been named interim chief.
An advertisement was posted on Pleasant Township social media on May 6 regarding how to apply for the vacant position. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, including experience and achievements in program and project management, and copies of relevant certifications to nhunter@pleasanttownship.com. The deadline to apply is at 3 p.m. May 31.
“I have accomplished everything I can. I am grateful to have served the community here and I am very grateful to have lived my dream for the past eight years,” said Taylor.
