The Township of Upper St. Clair has named Ted Hale its new Fire Chief. In his new role, he will lead all operations of the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department.  

After almost two years of cooperative study and review with the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department, the Board of Commissioners approved the Organizational Assessment and Strategy Recommendations for the fire department. Contained within this strategic plan were 11 recommendations to strengthen and support the long-term viability of the volunteer fire department.

Upon forming an Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee made up of Township, Fire Department and elected representatives, the Township initiated steps to meet objective number one of the strategic plan, which included appointing a Township Fire Chief. 

This was a significant hire for the Township, as Hale became the first full-time Fire Chief employed by Upper St. Clair when he started.

"Following this extensive multi-year study of the fire department’s operations, we are pleased to welcome Chief Ted Hale to our community and the Township organization,” said Township Manager Matthew R. Serakowski. “We are looking forward to continuing to cooperatively work with the Volunteer Fire Department as we navigate implementation of the strategic plan recommendations.  We are confident in Chief Hale's experience and background and believe he will provide the leadership and expertise necessary to allow the department to continue to build on a strong foundation of providing exemplary fire service delivery."     

“I am humbled and honored to be selected as the first ever full-time fire chief for the Township of Upper Saint Clair,” said Hale. “I would like to thank the administrative staff and the Board of Commissioners for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with the current volunteer firefighters, who are dedicated and committed to providing the best possible service to the residents of Upper St. Clair.  I believe my 30-plus years of service as a career and a volunteer firefighter have given me the training, knowledge and experience needed to lead the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department into this new and exciting chapter.”

Hale has over 30 years of service in both volunteer, combination and career fire service organizations. He was with the Library Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, serving as Fire Chief, and has been with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire since 2011.

As the Fire Chief at the Library Volunteer Fire Company, Hale coordinated and managed all department activities, including training, fire protection and prevention. He was also responsible for community outreach programs, implementing recruiting and retention programs, and establishing standard operating guidelines for the fire department.

From 1996-2011, he served in numerous roles with the Wilkinsburg Fire Department—including Fire Captain. In addition, he has been a Fire Academy Instructor at the Allegheny County Fire Academy since 2004.

In his most recent role with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, Hale oversaw equipment and vehicle upkeep, assessed and responded to emergency situations, implemented training programs for new members and was an active member of the occupational health and safety committee.

Hale is a liaison to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, a former Vice-Chairman of the Allegheny County Juvenile Fire Setters Task Force and a former training officer for the South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG) Fire Chief’s Advisory Board.

He began his duties on June 1, 2023.