Freeholders transfer fire marshal and coordinator to sheriff's office

Sussex County Sheriff Robert E. Untig has announced that a recent resolution authorized by the Board of Chosen Freeholders has added the Office of Fire Marshal and Fire Coordinator to the Sheriff’s Office. “In this era of Homeland Security and with the emphasis on coordination and cooperation amongst different first responding agencies, it made practical sense for this change to occur,” said the sheriff, who is Sussex County‘s Emergency management coordinator. “I am very pleased to welcome the Fire Marshal and his staff to my agency. They are a valuable and important resource, and I look forward to working with them. Having both the Office of Fire Marshal/coordinator and the Office of Emergency Management together under my direction, coupled with the other resources provided by my office, will now provide a fluid and efficient approach to any disaster or crisis in Sussex County.“ The Office of the Fire Marshal and Fire coordinator is responsible for enforcing the state’s fire code through inspections and investigations. The office also conducts safety training for members of the public and acts as a liaison to the Office of Emergency Management, all local fire departments and the Sussex County Public Safety Training Facility. The Sussex County Fire Marshal/coordinator is Thomas Davis of Highland Lakes. His deputies are Joseph Inga of Newton and Thomas Mchayre of Sparta. The office also employs an administrative assistant, Barbara Moll, of Vernon. The Fire Marshal/coordinator previously reported to the Sussex County Department of Health and Human Services. Under the restructuring, it will become part of the Homeland Security Branch of the Sheriff’s Office. The branch includes the Office of Emergency Management. K-9, Bomb, Hazmat, Search and Rescue, and the Community Policing Units. It is supervised by Undersheriff Virgil Rome.