Celina's Wolters is Fire Chief of the Year

CELINA - Longtime Celina Fire Chief Doug Wolters has been named the Fire Chief of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Department.

VFW District Two Commander Karl Hagaman has known the chief for a long time and said Wolters goes out of his way to help the Celina VFW and serve the community.

Celina VFW members have nothing but good things to say about Wolters, Hagaman said.

"We like what he stands for and his integrity. He is always there for us. We appreciate what he does," he added.   

Wolters frequently speaks at Eichar-De Curtins VFW Post 5713 and is always willing to help when needed, Hagaman said.

To achieve this honor, Hagaman said Wolters was considered at the local post, the district and state level.

The chief said he's honored and grateful to the VFW.

Wolters' family has long ties to the VFW, he pointed out.

"My mom is an auxiliary member, my dad used to be quartermaster for 10 years at Chickasaw, and my grandfather was post commander in the 1950s out here," he said.

Receiving the honor took a collective effort from all 24 department firefighters, he stressed.

"The guys work together for the common goal," he said.

When not responding to fires or squad runs, most of the firefighters s help with kids in the community and support many community organizations, he said.

He has served as chief since 2009 and started working for the department as a full-time firefighter in 1990 after volunteering for the Montezuma fire department for seven years.

Being a firefighter is a career he has wanted to follow since he was a kid, Wolters recalled.

"I found it interesting. It's everything I thought it would be and more. I enjoy helping somebody out in their time of need," he added.

As chief, Wolters said he takes pride in leading the department and does his best to keep the fire and emergency medical services responders on the leading edge.

One way he's done this is by spearheading the city's purchase of a new fire truck, saving more than $45,000 in the process. City council members plan to appropriate funds to purchase a 2021 Pierce Enforcer for $756,337 equipped with the latest technology to help firefighters better serve the public when it arrives in the fall.

Over the next five years or so, Wolters said he plans to look at ways to expand the department's facilities.

"That's our next major goal. We'll just have to see how the people feel about that," he added.

Mayor Jeff Hazel praised Wolters for his dedication to the community.

"I think he is well deserving. He has a distinguished career rising up through the ranks, and we are very proud of him for being recognized," he said. "He is an example of a public worker who is dedicated to his work."