Roster of York Fire Chiefs
Although the history of organized fire protection in York can be traced back to 1771, the individual fire companies of York had no true leader of the department until 1886. Prior to 1886, each company had their own foreman, who guided them at the scene of a fire. They answered to the municipality through the Fire Committee of the borough council, however that committee was more of an administrative liaison with the various fire companies. So, it could be argued that the appointment of the first Chief Engineer in 1886 would mark the first time that the fire companies were organized into a true fire department.
On December 7, 1876, borough council passed an ordinance creating the position of Chief Engineer of the fire department. However, it was not until January 14, 1886 until the council actually appointed someone to fill the position. Originally, the Chief Engineer served for a one year term, and the Chief Engineer was appointed from a different fire company each year.
The methods of appointing a Chief Engineer or Fire Chief varied through the years. Initially the Chief Engineer was selected by a convention of representatives of the various fire companies, with their selection being approved by the council. In April of 1896, a new ordinance was passed, repealing the previous ordinance, and placing the power to appoint the Chief Engineer to the Mayor, with the Select Council approving the Mayor's appointment. It wasn't until April of 1899 that the Mayor selected his own appointee rather than selecting the candidate recommended by the convention of firemen.
The office of Chief Engineer was a part-time position until 1912, when council passed an ordinance making the position of Fire Chief a full-time position. The titles of Chief Engineer and Fire Chief were used interchangablly through the term of Fire Chief L. Ellis Wagner. Research as of yet has been unable to find a specific time when the title was officially changed to Fire Chief.
On September 2, 1960, council amended the Fire Chief's ordinance, removing the requirement that chief officers of the fire department had to have served as an officer of a volunteer fire company prior to being promoted. This change allowed career members of the fire department to become a chief officer without first serving as an officer with one of the volunteer fire companies.
Chief Engineers/Fire Chiefs
Luther T. Deininger
Appointed January 14, 1886
Left Position January 13, 1887
Died August 3, 1897
Member of the Laurel Fire Company
John M. Whare
Appointed January 13, 1887
Left Position January 8, 1888
Died March 3, 1891
Member of the Rescue Fire Company
James E. Crimins
Appointed January 9, 1888
Left Position January 7, 1889
Died March 5, 1941
Member of the Union Fire Company
Oliver P. Plonk
Appointed January 7, 1889
Left Position January 27, 1890
Died July 5, 1927
Member of the Laurel Fire Company
Charles E. Buchar
Appointed January 27, 1890
Resigned August 25, 1890
Died May 8, 1938
Member of the Rex Hook & Ladder Company
Walter B. White
Appointed August 12, 1890
Left Position January 8, 1894
Died November 19, 1930
Member of the Laurel Fire Company
First Chief Engineeer to serve more than one term.
Would later be appointed Chief of Police - 1896 to 1902
James E. Crimins
Appointed January 8, 1894
Left Position January 17, 1896
Died March 5, 1941
Member of the Union Fire Company
First Chief Engineer to serve more than one non-consecutive term
Oliver P. Plonk
Appointed April 7, 1896
Left Position April 10, 1899
Died July 5, 1927
Member of the Laurel Fire Company
Harry L. Wills
Appointed April 10, 1899
Left Position April 7, 1902
Died November 22, 1936
Member of the Vigilant Fire Company
Jacob K. Seacrist
Appointed April 7, 1902
Left Position April 3, 1905
Died October 31, 1936
Member of the Rescue Fire Company
Samuel H. Kormeny
Appointed April 3, 1905
Left Position April 6, 1908
Died September 20, 1946
Member of the Union Fire Company
George S. Kroll
Appointed April 6, 1908
Left Position April 1, 1912
Died May 7, 1922
Member of the Laurel Fire Company
Harry L. Wills
Appointed April 1, 1912
Left Position April 1, 1919
Died November 22, 1923
Member of the Vigilant Fire Company
First full-tine Chief Engineer
George S. Kroll
Appointed April 1, 1919
Died in Office May 7, 1922
Member of the Laurel Fire Company
Edgar C. Landes
Appointed June 1, 1922
Left Position January 12, 1926
Died August 14, 1960
Member of the Vigilant Fire Company
Curtis C. Schaberg
Appointed January 12, 1926
Left Position January 18, 1929
Died November 29, 1944
Member of the Union Fire Company
George B. Stambaugh
Appointed January 18, 1929
Resigned February 22, 1929
Died Januaru 28, 1933
Member of the Vigilant Fire Company
Resigned due to health issues
L. Ellis Wagner
Appointed February 22, 1929
Retired August 1, 1957
Died February 27, 1959
Member of the Vigilant Fire Company
Held the position of Fire Chief for the longest time
H. Raymond Linton
Appointed August 1, 1957
Died in Office August 2, 1960
Member of the Rex Hook & Ladder Company
Appointed Acting Fire Chief on March 22, 1957 due to illness of Chief Wagner.
Lewis D. Harbaugh
Appointed August 17, 1960
Retired March 11, 1961
Died September 22, 1968
Member of the Goodwill Fire Company
John T. Koch
Appointed March 10, 1961
Died in Office June 15, 1963
Member of the Eagle Fire Company
Robert W. Little, Jr.
Appointed July 15, 1963
Retired October 1, 1976
Died July 22, 1982
First career member appointed Fire Chief
George E. Kroll
Appointed October 1, 1976
Retired April 30, 1995
Died September 13, 2019
Grandson of Fire Chief George S. Kroll
Thomas E. Landis, Jr.
Appointed May 1, 1995
Retired April 30, 1998
Died October 15, 2017
David A. Love, Jr.
Appointed April 7, 1998
Retired January 17, 2000
John S. Senft
Appointed January 17, 2000
Retired July 13, 2010
Also served as Acting Police Commissioner in 2003
Steven R. Buffington
Appointed July 14, 2010
Retired April 29, 2012
David P. Michaels
Appointed April 30, 2012
Retired February 28, 2019
Chad A. Deardorff
Appointed February 28, 2019
Retired June 2, 2021
William H. Sleeger, Jr.
Appointed June 2, 2021
Any additions, corrections and/or comments are welcomed.