Jay Ogden returns to Warren County to take on gov't Fire Coordinator post

QUEENSBURY | Warren County officially has a new full-time permanent Fire Coordinator. Jay Ogden, a 25-year employee of the Charlotte, North Carolina Fire Department, was appointed recently by the Warren County Board of Supervisors to the position of County Fire Coordinator. The appointment coincides with the retirement of Brian LaFlure, who served in that post — as well as county Director of Emergency Services — for many years. Taking on the executive county position represents a homecoming for Ogden, a Glens Falls High School alumnus. After graduation from Glens Falls High, Ogden served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, followed by decades of fire service work in North Carolina. With the Charlotte Fire Department, Ogden most recently served as Special Operations Logistics Manager. His duties included overseeing efforts to maintain public safety at major events around the southeastern US. In addition, Ogden has served as a volunteer firefighter in North Carolina, holding leadership positions including Rescue Chief. Last year, Ogden was named the Charlotte Fire Department's "Firefighter of the Year" in recognition of his lengthy, dedicated service. He recently retired and moved back to Warren County. Seeking to return to public service, Ogden sought out the open position of county Fire Coordinator, which was initially a part-time job. Ogden said he was pleased to be back in Warren County where he spent many years of his youth. Ogden lives in Queensbury with his wife and two children. "I am happy to be returning to the community where I was born and raised," he said, noting he enjoyed taking on a public service post. Ogden said he was looking forward to working with the public safety personnel to maintain and enhance services to the Warren County citizens. Brian LaFlure has been working with Ogden during a transition period to familiarize him with the operations of the county Fire Coordinator office. The three Warren County deputy fire coordinators — Ted Little, Scott Combs and Chip Mellon — as well as hazardous materials coordinator Jamie Schrammel, are remaining in their positions. County Director of Emergency Services Ann Marie Mason recently offered Ogden a welcoming statement. "I'm very happy with Jay's experience and what he has been able to accomplish so far, and I look forward to working with him," Mason said. Rachel Seeber, Chairwoman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, both welcomed Ogden to his new position and expressed gratitude for LaFlure's nearly five decades of public service. "On behalf of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, I would like to thank Brian LaFlure for his tireless efforts, dedication, passion, energy and commitment to residents of our county," Seeber said. LaFlure had been the county's Emergency Services Director/Fire Coordinator for about 13 years, routinely working far more than 40 hours per week in the dual position which he took over in 2007 after the retirement of Marv Lemery. Beforehand, LaFlure served as county Deputy Fire Coordinator. During his lengthy tenure with Warren County, LaFlure took on considerable extra work for the county Sheriff's Office repairing and installing much of the agency's radio communications equipment. LaFlure's career in local fire service extends further back in time — over a total of nearly five decades. LaFlure is a longtime member of the Queensbury Central Fire Department, having served as chief in the 1990s. Much of his work in fire and emergency services has been on a volunteer basis. In recognition of LaFlure's many years of dedication to fire and emergency services, the Glens Falls Rotary Club honored him in 2019 as the organization's "Citizen of the Year."

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Jay Ogden returns to Warren County to take on gov't Fire Coordinator post

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