Harlem Township has a proposed fire levy on the Nov. 5 ballot. The ballot language from the Delaware County Board of Election reads:

“A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. A replacement of a tax for the benefit of Harlem Township for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, appliances, buildings or sites therefor, or sources of water supply and materials therefor, or the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire alarm telegraph, or the payment of permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighters or firefighting companies to operate the same, including the payment of the firefighter employers’ contribution required under section 742.34 of the Revised Code, or the purchase of ambulance equipment, or the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company that the county auditor estimates will collect $1,131,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 3.5 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $123 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for 4 years, commencing in 2024, first due in calendar year 2025.”

The township’s website said the Division of Fire’s annual operation budget depends solely on the levy.

“We are grateful for the support of the residents when we do place a levy on the ballot,” said the Division of Fire. “We wouldn’t be able to accomplish all we do without our residents backing us at the ballot.”

Thomas O’Brien is the fire chief for Harlem Township. He was previously the fire chief for Liberty Township for five-and-a-half years and spent 31 years with the Newark Fire Department. He has also taught fire training and fire science.

The department has seven full-time members, which includes O’Brien. They work around the clock on a three-day rotating schedule, supplemented by part-timers. Their equipment includes a ladder truck, a tanker engine, a medic truck, a tanker, a grass truck and two other trucks.

“Over the past couple of years, the division has responded to approximately 500 runs each year,” said the township site. “In addition to firefighter qualifications, all members are minimally trained to the EMT Basic (EMT-B) level with just over half maintaining Paramedic (EMT-P) certification. The department, like the township is a part of Delaware County, whom we’ve worked well with as well as a shared relationship with neighboring communities. We rely on each other for mutual aid during larger incidents and value teamwork.”

The township’s Division of Fire was founded in 1973.

“Today, the Harlem Township Division of Fire is a full-service public safety organization, using cross-trained dual-role personnel, that provide Advanced Life Support transport service, in addition to rescue, hazmat, fire suppression and fire prevention/education,” their website said.

Harlem also participates in a Special Needs Registry.

“Harlem Township residents are encouraged to participate in a new program available allowing you to register any medical or other special needs that you may have in your household,” said their website. “The program will allow fire and police responding to a residence to have important medical information available enroute to the scene.

“Residents with special needs can log on to www.delcospecialneeds.com to find additional information on the program and/or make an inquiry into the program. A representative from the fire department will contact you and make a home visit to gather all necessary information.”

The fire station is at 3883 S. State Route 605, Galena. For more information, visit www.harlemtwp.com/departments/fire.php.

Assistant Editor Gary Budzak covers the eastern half of Delaware County and surrounding areas. He can be reached at 740-413-0906.