Town of Watertown Fire District Launches Official Facebook Page

Watertown, NY — The Town of Watertown Fire District is pleased to announce the launch of its official Facebook page. This platform will be used to share information, updates, and announcements relevant to Fire District operations and governance.

To clearly distinguish the Fire District from the Fire Department, the profile image for the page has been updated to display a 46 helmet, which represents the Fire District.

Members of the public are encouraged to follow the page to stay informed about Fire District-related news and activities.

Please be advised that our website will be undergoing changes to comply with New York State requirements to transition to a .gov domain.

As part of this process, we are also moving to a new website platform. During this transition period, website updates may be delayed until the migration has been fully completed.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure compliance and improve our online services. Updates will resume as soon as the transition is finalized.

Thank you for your continued support.

Town of Watertown Fire District Emphasizes Transparency and Opens Lines of Communication

Watertown, NY — 10/24/2025 — 

The Town of Watertown Fire District is committed to maintaining transparency and open communication with residents, media, and the broader community. As part of this commitment, the Fire District has designated a Public Information Officer (PIO) to serve as the primary point of contact for all public and media inquiries.

The PIO will be available to speak with members of the media, provide timely updates, and ensure that accurate information is shared regarding the town fire district operations, initiatives, and public concerns.

“We believe that transparency builds trust,” said Art Cooley, Chairman of Fire Commissioners “Our Public Information Officer is here to make sure that anyone with questions or concerns has a clear and direct way to get answers.”

Members of the media or the public who have questions are encouraged to reach out to the PIO directly.

Contact:
Warren Day
Public Information Officer

Town of Watertown Fire District Commissioner
315-788-9101

wday@twfdistrict.com

 

From the Town of Watertown Fire District

Subject: Fire Chief Position

Fire Chief Position Requires Specific Qualifications to Ensure Public Safety and Leadership Excellence

Town of Watertown Fire District is reminding the public that the position of Fire Chief is one of critical importance and requires specific qualifications to ensure the safety, preparedness, and effective leadership of our fire services.

The Fire Chief serves as the highest-ranking officer in the department and is responsible for overseeing all fire operations, emergency response coordination, personnel management, and strategic planning. To fulfill these duties effectively, candidates must meet a set of professional and educational standards.

The Town of Watertown Fire District Commissioners discussed the qualifications for Fire Chief in early October. 

Under 19 NYCRR: 426.9

h. Supervisor Level V (Chief of department level responsibilities) a person: 1. Possess Fire Officer 3 certification, pursuant to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1021 Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, 2014 Edition, or possess the training, education, experience or combination thereof, determined by State Fire Administrator to meet the requirements of Civil Service Law section 58-a; and 2.meet the core competencies for incident commander established by the State Fire Administrator, pursuant to General Municipal Law section 204-dd and 9 NYCRR Part 227.

“These qualifications are not just formalities—they are Law.

Therefore, The Town of Watertown Fire District Commissioners had to relieve the Chief of his duties immediately as per Civil Service and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control. 

The Town of Watertown Fire District is committed to maintaining the highest standards in public safety leadership.