Retired Warren County Fire Academy Coordinator Joseph Fox honored by Board of County Commissioners
WARREN COUNTY, NJ – The longtime head of the Warren County Fire Academy was honored by the Warren County Board of County Commissioners Wednesday night with a proclamation recognizing his years of service.
Joseph Fox, Sr. retired as Fire Academy Training Coordinator on February 28, 2025, a position he held since 2006, overseeing all Academy operations and acting as the chief liaison between the Fire Academy, the county Public Safety Department, and Warren County Community College.
“You’re going to be sorely missed,” Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski told Fox, adding, “Enjoy your retirement, enjoy your family—you deserve that.”
Noting the number of lives Fox impacted was incalculable, Commissioner James R. Kern III pointed out that Fox “trained so many firefighters who then went out into the community and saved people’s lives.”
“You’re also training those firefighters to make sure they come out alive,” Commissioner Lori Ciesla said.
“Your stamp on public safety and firefighting in this county is a legacy that you should be so proud of, and it will not be forgotten,” Kern added.
“He made a difference in so many young lives who wanted to join the fire service,” Warren County Public Safety Director Dennis Riley said, adding that Fox helped guide those first responders into their roles in a very safe manner.
Fox was joined at the Commissioners’ meeting by his wife, Denise, and other family members, including grandchildren. A large contingent of fire chiefs, fire academy staff, and firefighters were also present to honor him.
After thanking his family for supporting his efforts through the years, Fox also praised the academy staff, saying, “I want to thank the instructors; these guys made my life easy.”
Fox dedicated more than 32 years of service to public safety, having joined the Washington Fire Department as a firefighter in 1992 and serving as Chief from 2004 to 2005. He began his career at the Fire Academy in 1994 as a part-time instructor and subsequently oversaw the graduation of 28 Firefighter 1 classes and five Firefighter 2 classes.
Fox also served as Washington Borough’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator from 2014 to 2020 and as Deputy OEM Coordinator from March to December 2024.
