A historic vote inside the Port Gibson firehouse will put a woman in charge of the department for the first time.
Members of the Port Gibson Volunteer Fire Department voted Dec. 22 to elect Megan Wandersee as the department’s new chief. The decision was unanimous and will mark a leadership change as she takes over for outgoing Chief Scott Monagle.
Wandersee joined the department in 2016 and has served as second assistant chief for the past two years. She steps into a role once held by her father, Ron Wandersee, who served as chief in 1974. The department has about 25 active members and responds to roughly 180 calls each year, assisting neighboring companies in Newark, East Palmyra, Palmyra, and Farmington.
Monagle, who has worked alongside Wandersee since she first joined the department and also teaches with her at Midlakes, said he’s confident in her leadership. “I am excited to see her continue to grow as a firefighter and now as our chief,” Monagle said. “I am certain that she will continue to build on the successes of our small department.”
Wandersee has consistently ranked among the top five responders for Port Gibson over the past several years. Monagle said her commitment has stood out. “It is important for the younger generation of firefighters to learn the skills necessary to be great leaders,” he said. “Seeing the commitment from Megan over these last few years shows that she has true leadership qualities.”
The Port Gibson Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1947 and relies entirely on volunteer firefighters. While the department has remained strong, Monagle said recruiting new members has become more challenging due to training demands and time commitments.
“We’re always looking for more help,” Monagle said, adding that the department does much more than fight fires. He encourages anyone interested to stop by the firehouse and learn what the volunteers do.
To help support operations, the department hosts weekly Bingo nights every Friday, opening its doors to the community. Monagle said the events are critical for funding year-round services while giving residents a chance to connect with local firefighters.
More information about the department is available at portgibsonfd.org.
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