EXCLUSIVE: Middletown Twp. Fire Marshal Resigns Following Investigation

Middletown Township’s fire marshal and emergency response manager has resigned following an internal investigation.

Fire Marshal Jim McGuire submitted his resignation to township management on Monday after an internal investigation of reported issues inside the department he oversaw.

Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls confirmed to LevittownNow.com that McGuire had resigned from his post.

“We did have a complaint made by a former employee related to issues in the department. We heard the complaint and conducted an investigation” she said.

Sources have said the investigation involved claims of workplace problems and issues with documents. Many problems were substantiated through the internal investigation conducted by the the township’s labor counsel, Hill Wallack LLP. Numerous township employees were interviewed as part of the investigation.

An ongoing township-wide fire study also identified problems with agency that McGuire oversaw and will make recommendations to the township, sources said.

McGuire was placed on paid administrative leave in mid-July following his return from serving with a federal task force responding to the Surfside, Florida building collapse.

Don Harris, the former Newtown Township fire marshal and a longtime fire official, will fill the administer role overseeing the fire marshal’s office, emergency management, and the daytime emergency response service for Middletown Township. He will be contracted for 20 hours per week through Keystone Municipal Services, Teoli Kuhls said.

The township manager said the municipality will begin a search for a new director shortly. She said the fire study will soon be released and provide direction for the service.

Teoli Kuhls said she is “optimistic” that the study will help keep the fire response in the township strong. She said of the paid daytime response crews: “We continue to professionalize the organization and set the bar higher.”

In response to criticism about the township not letting volunteer fire companies know about McGuire being placed on leave in July, Teoli Kuhls said she was aware the companies all found out informally and felt they were in the loop. She noted the township gave the county emergency system formal notification.

Earlier this week, township officials met with leaders from the four volunteer fire companies and one ambulance squad to inform them that McGuire was leaving the township.

Teoli Kuhls stated she believes new leadership and the results from the fire study will only improve the fire service in the township.

McGuire declined to comment on his departure from the township.

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