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Fourth-generation firefighter takes over as chief of Ohio department

Michael Hannigan, who is a retired fire chief, was tapped to replace former Franklin Township Fire Department chief Tom Snively

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Michael Hannigan has been selected as Franklin Twp.’s new fire chief.

Photo/FTFD

By Ed Richter
Dayton Daily News

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Warren County career firefighter has been selected as Franklin Twp.’s new fire chief.

Michael Hannigan, who is a retired Lebanon fire chief, was tapped to replace former fire chief Tom Snively, who resigned in November.

Hannigan was appointed to a three-year term effective Nov. 14, 2018, and he will receive a salary of $10,000 a year. He is expected to work a minimum of 1,500 hours a year, or about 20 hours a week, according to his contract.

Township officials made the public announcement on Wednesday.

A fourth-generation firefighter with more than 30 years of firefighting experience, Hannigan was appointed as fire chief following Snively’s resignation.

Hannigan began his public safety career in 1973 with the city of Oakwood, serving as both public safety officer, and eventually, a public safety sergeant. In 1984, Hannigan became the city of Lebanon’s first full-time fire chief. At that time, Lebanon was an all-volunteer department, and Hannigan guided the evolution into the combination part-time and full-time department.

Hannigan has earned associate’s degrees in liberal arts and in fire science and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton. After retirement from the city of Lebanon, Hannigan found that he missed serving the community and being active in the fire service which lead him to apply for the position in Franklin Twp.

Hannigan and Snively were finalists in the last selection process in which Snively was tapped for the position.

Snively, who continues as the assistant fire chief for the Middletown Division of Fire, cited “recent medical issues with both my wife and I and the obligations of my full-time employment” led to his decision to step down, according to his resignation letter obtained by the Journal-News.

Township officials are planning several opportunities for the community to meet Hannigan in the coming months.

Copyright 2019 Dayton Daily News

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