Bath Fire Chief Walt Hower retires after 32 years of service

by Wendy Turrell

Fire Chief Walter Hower’s last official day on the job is Sept. 19, capping a 32-year career in firefighting and public safety that began when he joined the Bath Fire Department part-time in 1987 at 18 years old, when his father James was Bath Assistant Fire Chief.

Hower has continuously served Bath Fire since 1987, becoming full-time chief on Jan. 1, 2012. Before he became full-time in Bath, Hower was a full-time firefighter for the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department and taught in the fire protection associate degree course at the University of Akron.

While working, Hower earned an associate’s degree in fire protection, a bachelor’s in construction engineering and a master’s in public administration from the University of Akron. Hower is a paramedic and certified in all types of rescue, including HAZMAT and technical rescue (height, rope, trench and confined spaces).

The firefighting bug bit Hower at 14 when he experienced the Bath Fire Department’s Boy Scout Explorer program, which teaches aspects of law enforcement and firefighting careers. The program is still active, and Hower considers it an important future recruitment tool.

Highlights of Hower’s time at Bath Fire included “seeing the department advance and grow, promoting and hiring personnel … and seeing a decrease in fire activity for the community,” he said.

Among his achievements, Hower listed growing the inspection program to include full-time inspectors. All nine of the department’s full-time firefighters are certified inspectors, but all the new construction and renovation in the township made having a dedicated inspector more efficient. Former firefighter Mike Scott currently fulfills that role.

Another accomplishment was building Fire Station 2 on Route 18 across from Akron General/Cleveland Clinic 15 years ago. Bath and Copley townships share the station, but under Hower’s tenure, the two departments evolved from answering calls jointly to independently staffing the station. The two departments formerly answered calls together, but that was not optimal, since Copley averaged many more calls.

Hower looked back on “any incident with loss of life” as the most difficult part of his job. Some fatalities were from house fires, but many more were due to auto accidents.

For perspective on how demands have grown over the years, Hower said when he joined Bath Fire in 1987, it averaged 600 calls a year. Now, the department gets approximately 1,500 calls a year.

In retirement, Hower said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and four daughters, ages 12 to 22. He also has plans to enter the private sector.

Bath trustees named Bath Fire Assistant Chief Rob Campbell as interim chief.

Township Administrator and Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said, “Appointment of Chief Campbell to the interim position is an opportunity for the trustees to ensure there is a smooth transition of leadership in the fire department. The trustees remain confident Interim Chief Campbell will manage the department efficiently and will evaluate long-term leadership structure in the upcoming months.”

There is currently no active search for the position, he said.

Featured image photo caption: Bath Fire Chief Walt Hower is retiring after 32 years of service to the department. Photo by W. Turrell