After leading the Scranton Fire Department for nearly six years and serving the city for over two decades, Fire Chief John Judge will depart his post in November to accept a new role with another fire department.
Judge, a 24-year veteran of the Fire Department, served as a firefighter, administrative captain and captain before assuming the role of interim fire chief July 21, of 2020, replacing Al Lucas, who resigned that post at the end of June that year.
In November 2020, Mayor Paige Cognetti named Judge permanent chief of the fire department.
Prior to joining the Fire Department in September 2002, Judge served the city as a police officer.
As fire chief and emergency manager coordinator, Judge earned a salary in 2026 of $116,200 and oversees a department of 141 employees.
Judge departs the city post for a position as new Centre Region fire director. As fire director, Judge will oversee Alpha Fire Company, where he will also hold the title of chief, as well as the fire marshal’s office and the Centre Region HazMat team. He will be responsible for managing career personnel and volunteers for the fire department that serves 93,000 people in a 104-square-mile area. The department handles 1,200 incidents per year.
Judge is expected to assume the new role in late November.
According to an online application posted in July, the position pays from $119,000 to $130,000 annually.
Scranton Fire Chief John Judge looks out over North Carolina from inside a helicopter during a search and rescue mission with PA Task Force 1. (COURTESY OF JOHN JUDGE)
Scranton Fire Department superintendent John Judge shows the department’s new DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise drones at Scranton Fire Headquarters on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The fire department’s new drones feature thermal cameras to use at fire scenes.
TIMES-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
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Scranton Fire Chief John Judge looks out over North Carolina from inside a helicopter during a search and rescue mission with PA Task Force 1. (COURTESY OF JOHN JUDGE)
A career of service
Judge’s will officially conclude his service to the Scranton Fire Department on Jan. 2.
“His tenure as chief has been defined by an emphasis on proactive fire prevention, modernizing emergency operations, and strengthening the City’s emergency preparedness,” the city said in a release.
“Judge championed a proactive approach to fire prevention by advancing the department’s free smoke alarm program and expanding its community outreach, strengthening relationships between firefighters and the residents they serve. He also strengthened the department’s fire investigation capabilities through the addition of W’Asyk, an accelerant detection K-9.”
Judge focused on modernizing fire department operations. Under his leadership, the department developed a drone program and implemented a GPS-based alerting system that warns motorists of approaching fire apparatus and nearby emergency scenes. He also oversaw continued modernization of the apparatus fleet, including improvements to the tools and equipment used in firefighting operations.
As the City’s emergency management coordinator, Judge advanced the use of mass public notification tools and helped develop flood mitigation strategies to improve Scranton’s preparedness for severe weather and other emergencies.
“Firefighters often choose this profession for a lifetime, and Chief John Judge has provided a remarkable life of service to the Scranton Fire Department and our community,” Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said. “His dedication to public safety and service has been unmatched, helping to keep Scranton residents safe in immeasurable ways. The fundamental values of the Scranton Fire Department include ‘Service’ and ‘Integrity,’ both of which Chief Judge has embodied throughout his career.”