Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Day 144: Chief's banquet

The fire service is truly a brotherhood of people dedicated to serving their communities.   Tonight the Chautauqua Fire Chiefs Association gathered to honor the fire fighters of the year, the citizens of the year and a county fire coordinator.

Three young firemen rescued a couple from  the second floor of a burning building in Sherman.  A woman fire fighter, along with a civilian,  kicked in the windshield of a semi and extricated a couple from their burning vehicle on route 60 in Cassadaga.  The civilian turned out to be the principal of Sinclairville Elementary School who left the scene after his own injuries were treated because he had children waiting for him at school.  Their courage and selflessness is so inspirational.

The evening ended with a tribute to a colleague who is retiring after 30 years of service as a deputy fire coordinator for the county.  That's on top of the ten years he spent in service to his own community.  Each speaker shared humorous stories, but each was filled with love and respect.

Steve has spent 39 years in the fire service and has been a coordinator for five years.   How many more years will he give to our community?  We talk about the day when he too will retire.  Certainly, it will be much more difficult than retiring from teaching.  The fire service, the danger, the rescues, racing to an accident, responding to a disaster, easing the pain of others; it's in his blood.












Fire fighters of the year



Fire fighter of the year



Chautauqua County Fire Coordinators

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