Hartsville Fire Company Chief Stepping Down

WARMINSTER, PA —Hartsville Fire Company's longtime chief is stepping down.

The fire company announced Friday that Chris McDonald is leaving his position after a decade on the job.

"Chris worked his way through the ranks of the company holding almost every position," the fire company said in a Facebook post. "He has been a great mentor, friend, and leader for our company and its members. Please help us congratulate Chris as he steps back to enjoy some much-needed family time."

The fire company said that McDonald will continue to serve Hartsville and the surrounding communities and will still be seen on a fire truck from time to time.

"Chris, the company, our members, our community, and many men and women in the fire service of this region thank you for your excellent expertise and leadership," the fire company said.

"Thank you Chief McDonald for your commitment to Warminster Township and the surrounding communities," the Warminster Township Fire Department posted Friday.

The Hartsville Fire Company and Warminster Fire Department recently added full-time firefighters to its ranks.

Supervisors had reached an agreement with the fire companies over the summer to hire three full-time fighters, ending a long-time dispute with the fire companies that one fire chief called a "roller coaster" to go through the process.

"The Warminster Fire Department and Hartsville Fire Company are looking forward to working with our new township firefighters," a Facebook post from the fire companies said. "This is the culmination of many years of work by the leadership and volunteers of both companies and the Fire Marshall’s office."

The two fire companies held town hall meetings at the beginning of the year to state their case to residents that fire officials tried to seek funding for full-time firefighters. The fire companies have criticized the township for failing to provide adequate daytime coverage.

"Chris has been an asset to Hartsville and our residents," Supervisors Vice Chairman Kenneth Hayes told Patch Friday. "What a dedicated man he is to his profession. We will miss him. Chris was easy to work with. We always agreed with what the problems were and had to agree with how to get there."

(Photos Courtesy of the Hartsville Fire Company)