![\"Scranton](\"https:\/\/www.thetimes-tribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/STT-L-NC-1024-02.jpg?w=512\")
<\/p>\nAfter 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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0 Al Lucas, who resigned that post at the end of June that year.<\/p>\n
In November 2020, Mayor Paige Cognetti named Judge permanent chief of the fire department.<\/p>\n
Prior to joining the Fire Department in September 2002, Judge served the city as a police officer.<\/p>\n
As fire chief and emergency manager coordinator, Judge earned a salary in 2026 of $116,200 and oversees a department of 141 employees.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Judge is expected to assume the new role in late November.<\/p>\n
According to an online application posted in July, the position pays from $119,000 to $130,000 annually.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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)\n<\/p>\n
![\"Scranton](\"https:\/\/www.thetimes-tribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/STT-L-DRONES-1122-03.jpg?w=620\")
<\/p>\n
Scranton Fire Department superintendent John Judge shows the department\u2019s new DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise drones at Scranton Fire Headquarters on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The fire department\u2019s new drones feature thermal cameras to use at fire scenes.
\nTIMES-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO\n<\/p>\n
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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)\n<\/p>\n