Established in 1949, the Sharon Township Fire Department provides Fire, EMS and Rescue-services to nearly 6,000 residents, countless visitors, commuters and numerous businesses within the 25 square miles of Sharon Township. We have grown from a volunteer department of local farmers, business owners and residents to a part-time department of approximately 40 members, half, themselves residents of the township. The Department responds to over 800 incidents per year. The department focuses on improving our services through recruitment of high-quality individuals’ and weekly training in all aspects of fire, rescue and EMS. Our fire department participates with the Medina County All-Hazards Team, a regional rescue team, comprised of personnel from various public safety agencies within Medina County. The MCAHT provides local agencies additional resources and expertise when responding to rope, confined-space, excavation, structural collapse, hazardous materials and water rescue emergencies. The Sharon Township Fire Department works closely with our neighbors, providing automatic and mutual aid to surrounding fire departments including Granger, Hinckley, Wadsworth, Copley, Bath and Medina. The Department is led by Fire Chief Mike Stanec (1985) and Assistant Fire Chief Michael George (2003). Our experienced Officer Corps is comprised of six Lieutenants who perform as company officers and incident commanders during responses and are responsible for daily administrative staff assignments. The Lieutenants are, Lt. Steve Thomas (1997), Lt. Maggie Hobson (1999), Lt. Brad Turner (2010), Lt. Dan Miller (2005), Lt. Scott Christiansen (2024) and Lt. Mike Tople (2002).
Our Mission…
We serve Sharon Township by providing professional fire, rescue and emergency medical services with integrity, compassion, and accountability—while continuously evolving to meet the needs of our community.
2025 Annual Report
US Flag Retirement Drop Box
Every flag reaches the end of its service. Sun fades the stripes, wind frays the fly end, and one day the flag on your porch is no longer the emblem it was. The U.S. Flag Code is clear about what to do next, and doing it well takes less effort than most people expect.
Section 8(k) of the United States Flag Code says it in a single sentence: “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way.”
A flag with significant fading, fraying, tears, or stains that cannot be repaired or cleaned is no longer a fitting emblem for display. Minor fraying can be trimmed and hemmed, and a dirty flag can be washed or dry-cleaned, so repair is always worth considering first. But a flag flown to tatters honors no one. Replacing it is itself an act of respect.
When it is time for your flag to be retired, feel free to bring it to the Fire Station and drop it off in the US Flag Retirement Drop Box, installed and provided by Eagle Scout Dario Pallante. We will then make sure it is taken to the American Legion or VFW for proper retirement.
Ohio’s Fireworks Laws & Rules
- Consumers may only discharge 1.4G Fireworks.
- They may only be discharged on specific dates and times.
- Typically, only between 4PM – 11PM
- Must be on your own property.
- No person under the age of 18 is permitted to handle or discharge fireworks.
- Aerial devices cannot be discharged within 150 feet of spectators (this includes aerial shells, roman candles, cakes, and bottle rockets).
- Non-aerial devices cannot be discharged within 50 feet of spectators (this includes fountains, firecrackers, and ground effect devices).
- Sharon Township Fire Department (AHJ) requires Licensed Exhibitors (1.3G) to submit Permit Applications 30-days prior to the exhibit date.
- Sharon Township Fire Department (AHJ) permits ONLY electronic ignition (1.3G) within Sharon Township. Hand fired exhibits are not permitted.
Ohio Open Burning Guidelines
Michael Stanec
Fire Chief
Mike was sworn in as the seventh Fire Chief of the Sharon Township Fire Department effective August 1, 2023. He has been a resident of Sharon Township for 50 years, graduating from Highland High School in 1985. Mike joined the Sharon Township Fire Department in November of 1985 and is a Firefighter, Paramedic, Fire Service Instructor and Fire Safety Inspector. He previously held the rank of Captain (1990-2005) and Assistant Chief (2005-2023).
Mike lives in Sharon with his wife Maggie where they’ve raised four children, Abigail, Andrew, Emma and Annabelle, all Highland graduates. Mike retired after a thirty-one-year career with the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department. He maintains his commitment to the Sharon Township community by leading a department that provides the best possible service to its residents.
Chief Stanec can be reached at the Fire Department via phone (330)239-4992 ext. 303 or email mike.stanec@sharonfire.org
Knox Entry System
The Sharon Township Fire Department takes steps to help reduce property damage in the event of an emergency or during calls for service. We utilize Knox Entry products to help us reduce property damage. The Knox systems allow use of a single key system, specific to Sharon Township FD, to access key boxes, gate switches, padlocks and other devices to eliminate destructive entry when gaining access to a property. If you operate a business or wish to obtain a Knox system for you or a loved one’s home in Sharon Township, see the links below for Knox solutions.
To order a Knox Homebox for you or another Sharon Township resident, click the link.
Commercial property owners can click the link, to obtain appropriate Knox solutions for your property.
Long Lane Program
The Sharon Township Fire Department is committed to protecting the families and properties of Sharon Township; to achieve that goal the fire department needs your help. In the event of fire, the fire department must lay a fire hose from the street to the home or other structures on the property. If the driveway/lane that leads to a residence or other structure is greater distance than the amount of fire hose that is typically carried on fire apparatus, a significant delay in extinguishing the fire could result. To address this issue the fire department has developed a long driveway/lane marking system. This system requires fire department personnel to access the long driveways/lanes to conduct field surveys. The fire department will provide and install an address sign with Long Lane placard at the end of the driveway. This sign will assist the fire department in providing a faster and more efficient response to residences, should a fire occur.
If your driveway or access lane is greater than 900 ft. in length, please contact the Fire Department at info@sharonfire.org and let us know. We will gladly evaluate your property and determine if this program applies.
If you simply wish to obtain a green address sign, click the link below.
Fire Department Green Address Sign
Property Insurance FAQ
Oftentimes Insurance Companies, Agents and property owners contact the Fire Department for specific information regarding the fire department’s ability to respond to fires, the equipment sent, water supply and other pertinent information that will be used to calculate the insurance rates for a specific property. The following FAQs are provide to aid those entities. As always, if you need further information, do not hesitate to call the Fire Department at 330-239-4992 or contact us at info@sharonfire.org.
- What is Sharon Township’s fire protection class?
- Sharon Township is a split class.
- Areas with Municipal Water Supply are classified as an ISO Class 4
- Areas in rural areas are classified as ISO Class 4Y (formerly Class 8)
- Sharon Township is a split class.
- How close is the Fire Department to my property?
- The Fire Department is located at 1274 Sharon Copley RD., Wadsworth, OH, 44281
- We are within 5 miles of the most remote locations of Sharon Township
- What is the Fire Department’s response time?
- Our average fire response time from receipt of alarm to leaving the station is 3 minutes, 6 seconds.
- Our average fire response time from station to the incident is 6 minutes, 53 seconds.
- Our average fire response time from receipt of alarm to arrival at the incident is 9 minutes, 30 seconds.
- Does Sharon Township use Auto-Aid?
- The Fire Department is part-time staffed, typically with three personnel, with additional staff alerted upon receipt of an alarm. As such, we utilize a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) that provide resources from neighboring departments to supplement our internal response. Upon receipt of an alarm from the dispatch center, all jurisdictions listed in the MABAS will be dispatched simultaneously. A standard response to a residential structure fire within the Township will get a minimum of Sharon and two other fire departments on the first alarm.
- What are the total gallons of water that the fire department will have available for a structure fire?
- A residential structure fire in rural areas of the Township, with no municipal hydrants (ISO Class 4Y), will receive a minimum of 8500 gallons of water on the first alarm, provided by the Sharon fire apparatus, combined with the neighboring departments assigned to the incident.
