Wyomissing Borough Council has announced the appointment of Eric Needle as the next Fire Chief for the Borough of Wyomissing. His official start date as a full-time employee will be August 3, 2026. Prior to officially assuming the role full-time,
Needle will begin working with the Borough in a consulting capacity to assist the Fire Department and support operational transition efforts leading into his start date. Needle joins Wyomissing following a distinguished career with the Baltimore County Fire Department in Towson, Maryland, where he currently serves as a Captain. Throughout his career, he has also held the ranks of Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Specialist, and Lieutenant.
In addition to his leadership roles, Needle spent more than a decade assigned to both the department’s Advanced Tactical Rescue and Hazardous Materials Teams, bringing extensive operational and emergency response experience to the Borough.
In addition to his field experience, Needle has developed a strong background in strategic planning and budgeting, incident command and emergency operations, firefighter health and wellness initiatives, leadership development, and the advancement of emergency response technologies and training.
“I’m very excited to come to Wyomissing as the Fire Chief and am looking forward to leading the department forward with the health, wellness and safety of our firefighters in mind as well as innovation and advancement in technology so that our team can provide the best fire, EMS and rescue services to the borough and surrounding communities,” said Needle.
The appointment follows an extensive search and interview process conducted by Borough Council and Borough leadership.
“Borough Council took this process very seriously and dedicated a great deal of time to finding the right individual to lead the Wyomissing Fire Department,” said Borough Council President Kristen Gajewski. “After an extensive search and interview process, Council is extremely pleased with this decision and excited about the experience, leadership, and vision Eric Needle will bring to our department and our community.”
The Wyomissing Fire Department provides around-the-clock fire, rescue, and emergency response services to the Borough and assists neighboring communities throughout the region. Borough officials believe Needle’s experience, leadership style, and forward- thinking approach will help continue the department’s longstanding tradition of professionalism, preparedness, and public service.
