CENTER TWP — Nathan Wulff is considered to be a young fire chief, but the 23-year-old actually brings years of experience with him to that position at the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company.

Wulff, who became chief Jan. 1, is the son of township supervisor Phil Wulff, who has been a member of the fire department since 1975.

“I grew up around the station,” the new chief said. “It's always been a huge part of my life.”

This past November, when the department was set to elect a new chief, Wulff tossed his name into consideration.

“A few people approached me and said they thought I should run,” he said. “I planned on being chief eventually, but had to do a lot of thinking about it.”

Wulff said he made his decision after finding an old note left to him by a longtime firefighter at the department.

“I was rooting around old paperwork and found a note from Bill Voegler,” Wulff said. “The note was thanking me for everything I do around here. That was what made me run.”

Voegler died at the station in 2013 due to a heart attack. Wulff said Voegler and his father were his mentors as he became more involved with the department.

“I'm not real superstitious or anything, but I took it as a sign,” he said of the note.

Started at age 16

Wulff joined the department when he was 16 as a junior firefighter. When he turned 18, he was able to begin participating in active calls.

Last year he was a lieutenant for the department. That's a position his father has now.

“He's my lieutenant now, so I told him he has to call me sir,” Wulff joked. “But he hasn't done it yet.”

Wulff, who works full-time as an electrician for his family's company, said a lot of his free time is dedicated to being fire chief.

“It's basically another job,” he said, estimating he spends about 20 hours a week at the station.

It's not a time commitment most young adults would willingly take on.

“It certainly cuts back on your social life,” he said. “I have to sacrifice some of the things other 23-year -olds do. But at the same time, it felt like it was the right time to do this.”

While each of the 35 firefighters at the department are volunteers, Wulff does his duty in a professional manner.

“I look at this like I'm running a business,” he said. “There are 35 employees, and I'm the boss.”

Communication key

Wulff said one of the key roles of being chief is communicating with people both in and out of the department.

“You have to be the manager,” he said. “Communication skills really come into play.”

Wulff said it is the responsibility of the chief to talk to various groups and members of the community.

Wulff said he plans to attend the township's monthly supervisors meetings to provide an update on what is occurring at the department.

“They do a lot for us,” he said. “I want to let them see we're doing something.”

Wulff said tax money the department receives from the township each year is greatly beneficial.

“It's huge,” he said.

Wulff said the funding helps reduce the amount of fundraising the department does. It has monthly raffles, car shows in the summer, and other events, but Wulff said it's hard to ask volunteer members to devote countless hours to raising money.

“Fundraising drives aren't always all that fun,” he said. “Everyone here is a volunteer, and we can't put so much on people.”

Wulff said the department is appreciative of the support from the township.

“We have a great relationship with township supervisors,” he said. “They understand what it takes to run this place.”

Ed Latuska, chairman of the supervisors, praised Wulff's work ethic and communication skills.

“He seems like an intelligent, energetic young man,” he said. “I think he'll do a lot of good things for the fire department.”

Latuska said the board was happy to see Wulff keeping it up to date on the station.

“He wants to maintain a strong relationship,” Latuska said. “I'm glad he wants that communication open with the township.”

Firefighters needed

Wulff said he has various goals to accomplish this year, the first of which is to increase the number of firefighters.

While the department has 35 members, Wulff said only about 15 to 20 are actively involved.

“We have to be creative in recruitment,” he said. “That's always a big thing for fire departments.”

Wulff said the department has a good number of firefighters in their mid-20s or younger.

“Where we struggle is with the 25- to 40-year-olds,” Wulff said. “The older age group simply has more going on in their lives. People have families.”

Wulff said having the older firefighters around brings knowledge to the department.

“Those are the guys who have the experience,” he said.

The need of firefighters is always an issue as the department responds to calls.

The department had 266 calls last year, 73 of which were vehicle accidents and about 70 were automatic fire alarms. About 40 of the calls were structure fires, but Wulff said only a handful of those were fully engulfed buildings.

Embracing technology

While the department wants to bring in experience, Wulff said he always wants to progress in how the department is run.

“I want to embrace technology,” he said.

Wulff uses his smart phone to access an Active 911 app, which automatically connects incoming emergency calls.

The app provides GPS navigation to calls, will list who is on their way to the scene, and even displays fire hydrant locations.

“Years ago we may have had a paper map with marks on it,” he said. “Now we can use this app for anything from measuring distances to record keeping.”

Wulff said he also wants to use the department's computer programs to their “maximum potential” to increase efficiency in the department.

Improved training will continue to be a focus as well.

Wulff said volunteers at the department spend many hours training. Last year its members combined for about 1,300 hours of training.

Wulff said the department has numerous “technical” training programs scheduled this year. The first focused on ice rescue.

Wulff said he has hundreds of hours of training, much of which came at Butler County Community College, which has a fire training program.

“I think I have an associates degree in firefighting,” he joked. “Training is a big part of it.”