Fire Chief Rick Richardson has seen a lot of changes in the 30 years since he began his career as a firefighter.
Richardson, who was presented with the Fire Services Exemplary Services Medal at the April 22 Mapleton council meeting, says his involvement in fire fighting wasn’t something he planned.
“Back in 1983 I had no intention of joining the fire department,” Richardson recalled.
However, local firefighters were called to his home one day to extinguish a burned chicken dinner.
“The next day I was at the gas station and Alva Cherry said, ‘Do you want to join the fire department?’ and I said, ‘I guess so.’”
Back then, Richardson said, initiation meant, “Here’s a pager. Here’s a green light. You’re on the fire department.”
“The training program is a little more elaborate now,” quipped Mayor Bruce Whale.
Richardson told the Community News he was standing on a ladder spraying water on a fire on his first call with the local department.
“Now there’s six months of basic training,” he pointed out.
Richardson joined the Drayton Peel Fire Department in 1983. The department became Mapleton Fire/Rescue upon amalgamation.
Richardson was appointed fire chief in 2002.
