BATH TWP.: After a 26-year career, Assistant Fire Chief Tim Gemind is bidding farewell to the Bath Fire Department and to Northeast Ohio.
He and his wife, Brenda, will be heading to North Carolina this month as Gemind starts his next adventure: district chief for the Stony Hill Rural Fire Department in Wake Forest.
Late last month, trustees said it was with regret they were accepting Gemind’s resignation for retirement from the department he has served since 1987. Today will be his last day on the job.
Gemind started his fire career with the Copley Fire Department after graduating from high school in 1983. He began his service in Bath on May 1, 1987, and rose through the ranks: He was promoted to lieutenant in 1994, staff lieutenant in 1998 and assistant chief in 2003, under former Chief James Paulett.
He served as interim fire chief, following Paulett’s retirement in March 2011, until current Chief Walt Hower assumed the post in January 2012.
In addition, Gemind has served as a part-time firefighter/medic with the city of Fairlawn for almost 24 years, pointing out that he was able to work for 11 years under his dad, John Gemind, who retired as Fairlawn fire chief in 2000.
In the years he spent in Bath, Gemind saw many changes and has been instrumental in keeping up with those changes.
“Trying to keep up with the fire service changes, trends, other mandates, technology, and constantly trying to do the right thing to keep our personnel safe have all contributed to the department growing, advancing and improving,” he said.
He cited the department’s ability to cooperate, collaborate and share services, especially with neighboring communities. Specifically, Gemind pointed to the joint operation with the Copley Fire Department for the past 20 years.
“The department has always looked at how we can improve our service delivery and meet our mission,” Gemind said.
“His attention to detail and commitment to the job is well-known amongst his peers,” Bath Trustee Elaina Goodrich said. “He has been the training officer for the 17 years I have been here.”
Gemind has been “loaned” to other communities during times of disasters. As part of Ohio’s All Hazard Incident Management Team, he has been deployed to St. Bernard’s Parish, La., during the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005; to Ottawa County to battle flooding in Northwest Ohio; to Painesville after a train derailment in 2007; and last November to Suffolk County, N.Y. for Superstorm Sandy recovery.
“He is quick to respond to national disasters and has brought that additional knowledge back to the township,” Goodrich said. “He is the reason we have well-trained firemen ready for any disaster that strikes. That will remain his legacy in the department for many years to come.”
The draw of North Carolina dates back to when Gemind and his wife grew up with their respective families and vacationed there.
“In 2010, we purchased a log cabin in the mountains and started to talk about our options as I approached retirement eligibility in May of 2013,” Gemind said.
In December, he came across the Stony Hill job opportunity and applied. He was offered the position in April and accepted.
Starting June 24, Gemind will oversee the day-to-day operations and administration of 10 career, 14 part-time and 50 volunteers operating out of two stations. Consolidation plans could create a fire district covering 82 square miles and employing 250 people, he said.
Gemind took a moment when asked to reflect on the proudest moment of his career in Bath.
“I’m most proud of the people who make up our organization and that I have been able to play a role as a teacher, coach, mentor and a leader for most of those who have walked in our door for the last 26 years,” he said.