Jackson Fire District #2 has officially approved a merger that will absorb Fire District #3. This merger mirrors a similar consolidation completed in 2016 when District #1 joined District #2.

This has been a work in progress for almost three years, with approvals from the current fire boards coming a couple of years ago. The Township’s approval by resolution this past week was the final local piece needed before proceeding to the local finance board.

Officials hope the merger will take effect on January 1, 2027, but it is not yet certain due to recent tweaks to the state statute.

To help residents understand what this means, TLS spoke with Scott Rauch, who is currently the Fire District #2 Administrator and Fire Official.

Which Jackson Residents Are Affected?

This merger impacts residents living in the current Fire Districts 2 and 3.

District 4, home to the Jackson Mills Fire Company which currently operates with daytime career firefighters alongside full-time volunteers, will remain completely unaffected and will continue as a separate fire district.

How to know which district you live in: Check the map below.

Key Operational Changes

The merger creates a more unified and efficient structure:

• Deputy Chief Ed Moore, who is currently with District 3, will stay in his role but will now work directly for the new, larger District 2. He will oversee all paid firefighters and operations across the expanded district.
• Firefighters will now be able to work across stations more easily. This gives the district greater flexibility in staffing and overall coverage.
• Fire Official Michael Grossman (currently of District 3) will transition into the District 2 Fire Official role and will oversee the Fire Bureau.
• Scott Rauch, currently District 2 Administrator and Fire Official, will step back from his Fire Official duties and focus solely on his role as Administrator, allowing him to better manage the expanded district.
• One full-time clerk (from District 3), one part-time clerk (from District 2), and three part-time fire inspectors (from District 2) will all remain in their positions.

Staffing Improvements

Starting on the effective date of the merger, the combined district will operate with stronger daily staffing:

• Currently, District 3 has 4 firefighters on duty 24/7, while District 2 has 3 per shift.
• District 2 is actively in the process of hiring 4 additional firefighters. This will bring each shift up to 4 firefighters per shift.
• Once combined, the expanded District 2 will have 8 paid personnel per shift on 2 Engines: 6 firefighters and 2 officers.

The Chief will work during the day and remain on call after hours for larger incidents.

Governance & Board Structure

Each fire district currently has its own five-member Board of Commissioners.
It is not yet clear who will serve as commissioners for the combined district next year. Officials are waiting to see what the state requires before finalizing the new board structure.

What About the Volunteers?

The merger has minimal impact on the volunteer fire companies.

The main change is that Jackson Volunteer Fire Company #1 (Station 55) will now fall under the umbrella of District 2 instead of District 3, and Cassville Volunteer Fire Company will simply remain part of the larger District 2.

If Jackson Volunteer Fire Company #1 and Cassville Volunteer Fire Company decide to merge in the future, they could form one large volunteer fire department serving the combined area.

These changes are expected to provide stronger coverage, faster responses, and better overall service for residents in the combined district.