The West Chester Fire Department has been named the 2026 EMS Agency of the Year by the Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services, recognizing the department’s professionalism, clinical excellence, and commitment to high-quality emergency medical care.
“Our partnership with the West Chester Fire Department is built on a shared commitment to improving patient care and upholding the highest standards of clinical excellence in emergency medicine,” said Dr. Christopher Richards, UC Health emergency medicine physician, who nominated the department for the award. “Through ongoing collaboration, training, quality improvement and medical oversight, our teams continue to advance the quality of patient care.”
The statewide honor comes shortly after the West Chester Fire Department earned accreditation through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, completing a three-year review of operations, planning and service delivery. West Chester is one of only approximately 330 agencies worldwide to earn this distinction, which evaluates agencies against national best practices.
“This recognition belongs to every member of the West Chester Fire Department,” EMS Bureau Chief Jason Witte said. “Our firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and support staff work each and every day to provide compassionate, professional care to our residents and visitors. Being named EMS Agency of the Year is a tremendous honor, and it reflects the commitment of our entire team.”
The department was formally recognized during the 2026 Annual EMS Star of Life ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, at The Ohio State University Fawcett Conference Center in Columbus. The ceremony takes place during National EMS Week.
“This has been an important period of evaluation, growth and recognition for our department,” Fire Chief Rick Prinz said. “Accreditation gave us a data-driven roadmap for the future, and this EMS award affirms the quality of care our personnel provide in the field every day. Both achievements strengthen our ability to serve the community now and plan responsibly for the years ahead.”
West Chester Fire Department provides fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue response, prevention and public education services for Ohio’s largest township, which boasts a population of approximately 67,000.
