NEW FIRE CHIEF … Culyer Kepling, previously the acting fire chief, was officially named fire chief after a brief executive session and vote by the Swanton Village Council.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
After a brief executive session at its meeting Monday, the Swanton Village Council named Cuyler Kepling the new fire chief.
Kepling started his career in October 2012 at a department in Wood County, then worked part-time for Swanton Fire & Rescue beginning in 2013.
He joined Napoleon Fire & Rescue in 2015, serving as a firefighter and lieutenant, before accepting a full-time paramedic position. He left the Swanton Department in 2017.
In April 2021, Kepling returned to Swanton Fire & Rescue as a full-time firefighter, eventually being promoted to lieutenant, and eventually taking over as acting fire chief in July of this year.
“To be named the fire chief by the Swanton Village Council is humbling,” he said. “I am looking forward to working alongside the men and women of the Swanton Fire & Rescue Division.”
“We have a great group of professionals and I’m looking forward to supporting them and the department for future success.”
Kepling said the position comes with its own unique challenges, but ones he is ready to face. The first of those already came when he and Swanton Police Chief John Trejo – also new to his position as of May 2023 – participated in a four-hour joint Fulton County/Lucas County emergency management tabletop exercise.
According to Kepling, the exercise involved the derailment of several tanker cars in town at the county line carrying sulfuric, hydrochloric, and nitric acid that spilled and caught fire, with the fire spreading through the grass along the tracks, including toward the library. It also involved managing 10 patients and a one-mile radius evacuation of 3,300 residents.
“It’s a big situation that could very well happen in Swanton,” he said. “You hope it never does, but it’s possible.”
The exercise involved the Swanton fire and police departments as the lead agencies, supported in various capacities by neighboring police and fire agencies, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio Highway Patrol, Springfield Township Fire Department, Toledo Fire Department, Norfolk Southern Police Department, Mercy Health, and ProMedica.
OTHER BUSINESS
Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield reported that the village’s reserves are doing better than expected, growing from $4.9 million at the beginning of the year to a current balance of $5.8 million. It was previously reported to have been closer to $5.1 million.
The council passed its annual approval of an agreement with the Secretary of the Air Force for fire service mutual aid with the 180th Fighter Wing.
The council passed its annual approval of an agreement with Fulton County Commissioners to provide indigent legal services in Fulton County Eastern District Court.
It was reported that all Swanton Police Department vehicles are now equipped with spike strips, following the training of all officers on their use.
The council approved the hiring of Christopher Stillion as a full-time firefighter/paramedic, Daniel Johnson as a part-time firefighter/paramedic, and David Bennett as a part-time fire inspector. The council accepted the resignation of firefighter/EMT Kate Cleland.
Jesse can be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com