Plain Township

Assistant Chief Rupp has over 30 years of fire service experience. Serving Madison Township in Franklin County for over 27 years. During that time he served as a Firefighter / Paramedic, EMS Officer, Company Officer, Battalion Commander and Executive Officer.

In 2002, the Plain Township Board of Trustees approved hiring him into the Assistant Fire Chief position. Asst. Chief Rupp currently oversees operations, training, fire prevention and EMS billing. He assists the Fire Chief with human resource management, planning and budgeting. He chairs the operations board for the Metropolitan Emergency Communications Center (MECC) and is on the advisory group for the Central Ohio Strike Team (Ohio Region 4 USAR). Chief Rupp is a member of the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association and serves on a number of state committees. In addition Chief Rupp has served on the Ohio EMS Board and is a founding Board Member for the FCFF / Grant Medical Center Paramedic Program and still serves on that Advisory Board.

Asst. Chief Rupp's educational background includes both formal and technical training. He is a certified paramedic, public safety instructor, fire safety inspector and hazmat technician.

He and his wife Carol, have three sons and a daughter. All three sons have chosen careers in the fire service.

Captain Brown is a 1988 graduate of the New Albany High School. He began volunteering with Plain Township Fire Department in 1988. In 1991 he received his paramedic certification from Franklin County Firefighters/Grant Medical Center and in June was hired as one of the first full-time firefighter/paramedics for the Plain Township Fire Department. In 1995 Joe was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 2005 he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He serves as the EMS Coordinator/Public Safety EMS Instructor, holds certification for Fire Safety Inspector, and has recently graduated from the Ohio Fire Executive Program, which is conducted by the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association and the Ohio State University College of Business.

Captain Ecleberry is a 1990 graduate of Newark High School. He began his career in the fire service in 1991 at the Newark Township Fire Department. He has worked for Hebron and Franklin Fire Department. Greg holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety Management from Franklin University and his paramedic certification from Hocking College. Greg came to the Plain Township Fire Department in 1995 as a part-time firefighter/paramedic and in 1997 was hired full-time. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2001. He received the promotion to Captain in 2005. Greg serves as the Fire Training Coordinator for the Plain Township Fire Department,  works as a fire instructor at CTEC in Newark, holds certification as a Fire Safety Inspector and Haz-Mat technician. Greg is currently participating in the  Ohio Fire Executive program at the Ohio State University.

Lieutenant Dudley is a Westerville North Graduate. He obtained his 200 hour firefighter card from the North West Career Center. Travis is a Columbus State graduate with an Associates in Fire Science and paramedic certification. He began his fire service career at Genoa Township as a volunteer and has worked at Perry Township, Washington Township, Sharon Township and Plain Township. He joined the Plain Township Fire Department as a full-time firefighter in 1995 and holds certification as a Fire Safety Inspector.

Lieutenant Carney was born in Akron, Ohio. He graduated from Fairfield Career Center with a certificate in Automotive Mechanics. Jim began his fire service career in 1992 with the Violet Township Fire Department. Jim completed the Franklin County Firefighters/Grant Medical Center Paramedic Education Program in 1994. He started with the Plain Township Fire Department in 1995. Jim is a hazardous materials technician, fire and bomb investigator, and Local Union President for the International Association of Firefighters Local 3850. Jim also works as the Legislative Director for the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters. He graduated from Harvard Law School’s Trade Union Program in February of 2005.

Lieutenant Myers has been a Plain Township resident since 1985 and graduated from Whitehall Yearling High School. Greg began his fire service as a volunteer with Plain Township in 1986. He received his paramedic certification from the Franklin County Firefighter/Grant Medical Center. Greg joined the department as a full-time firefighter in 1995. He has worked with West Licking and Basil Fire Department as a part-time firefighter and is currently a part-time firefighter with Jefferson Fire Department. He holds certification as a Fire Safety Inspector. Greg is a Plain Township resident.

Fire Marshal Terry Guthrie began his career in the fire service as a volunteer in rural Holmes County in September of 1990.  His fire and EMS training has progressed from the volunteer levels to a career firefighter and paramedic.

He has continued his education to include the state certified fire safety inspector, fire safety educator, advanced level fire investigator, fire/EMS instructor, and he holds an Associates Degree in Fire Science.  He is constantly pursuing a higher level of education and is currently working towards completing the Ohio Fire Executive program through the Ohio Fire Chiefs organization.  He was hired as a part-time employee at the Plain Township Fire Department in 2001 and was sworn in as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in December of 2003.

July 16th, 2007 he started a new position as the Fire Marshal of Plain Township in New Albany, Ohio.  His duties are primarily administrative and focus on the prevention of fires.  Conducting fire/life safety inspections of new and existing businesses, determining fire origin and cause at fire scenes, participating in fire safety education for adults and children, and acting as an incident safety officer at emergency scenes adding an extra measure of security for the firefighters are essential job functions.

Bicycling and riding ATVs’ are his favorite off duty activities as he takes advantage of many outdoor activities.