Mayor W. Reed Gusciora announced last Wednesday that Kenneth M. Douglas, who served most recently as the Orange Township Fire Director, has been selected to lead the Trenton Fire Department.
“We’re particularly proud of our fire department, and Director Douglas has the extensive experience and leadership qualities necessary to ensure our firefighters continue to provide the highest quality service for our residents,” said Mayor Gusciora. “His extensive work in community relations and public education will undoubtedly help improve resident safety in a diverse community like ours.”
“It’s not just about running a great fire department but engaging the entire community to help protect neighborhoods from fire,” said Douglas. “With the right level of engagement – whether it’s at high schools, senior buildings, or community centers – you can drive down the number of preventable fires dramatically. I can’t wait to continue those efforts in New Jersey’s Capital City.”
Douglas has been the Fire Director and Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator in Orange since 2015, where he improved recruitment, retention and diversity for fire personnel and oversaw a community safety education campaign in multiple languages that helped reduce fires in Orange Township by 60 percent over five years. He was also an arson investigator, fire fighter and community relations specialist with the Newark Fire Department, where he worked for 16 years.
The appointment will have to be approved by City Council at this Thursday’s Council meeting.
