Middletown Hires New Fire Chief With Goal Of Coordinating Volunteer & Paid Crews

Middletown Township and its four volunteer fire companies’ effort to improve services and coordinate daily operations will move forward with the hiring of a new chief.

Fire service veteran Mark Antozzeski has been hired by the township as the new chief of fire and emergency services for Middletown Township. The volunteer fire companies will each continue to be led by their own chiefs.

The new township chief will be officially sworn in to his job at the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors  meeting on Tuesday.

Antozzeski will have oversight of the Middletown Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ paid firefighting and inspection crew and help organize the independent volunteer companies, which are Langhorne-Middletown, Parkland, Penndel, and William Penn.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Antozzeski as our new fire chief,” said Middletown Township Board of Supervisors Chairperson Anna Payne. “His extensive experience, dedication, and passion for public safety will be invaluable to Middletown Township. We are confident that he will lead with the highest level of professionalism and ensure the safety of our residents  and businesses.” 

The township and volunteer fire companies have been working to improve their coordination over the past year.

A 2021 report found there was a “lack of trust and communication” between the township and volunteer crews.

The report recommended a combined model for Middletown Township that uses paid crews and volunteer fire companies. The system would have the volunteer and paid crews working together in a more integrated system, as opposed to dual system where there is little cooperation and integration.

Antozzeski will be tasked with the transition toward a combination model.

Antozzeski started his career in emergency services while serving in the U.S. Air Force, where he held positions such as a driver, crew chief, firefighter, and fire inspector. Since then, he has worked in a number of capacities, including as an Office of Emergency Management teacher for the New Jersey State Police as a volunteer and career firefighter. Antozzeski worked as the fire chief for Hamilton Township Fire District 9 in New Jersey for 19 years, according to the township.

Antozzeski has a master’s degree from Columbia Southern University and a bachelor of science in fire science from the University of Maryland. He has also completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, the township said.

The township’s fire companies receive approximately 3,500 calls per year and ambulance services are called more than 5,000 times each year.

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