Fire chief looks to retirement after 35 years on the clock

Wilmington, Mass. (AP) — For 35 years, reporting to the Fire Department has been an incredible experience for Fire Chief Rick McClellan. But come Jan. 12, McClellan will be stepping away to enjoy retirement.

McClellan, now 60, remembers the date he began in the department — Oct. 18, 1982. That day he responded to his first fire — a brush fire along railroad tracks. Ed Bradbury, chief at the time, responded with McClellan.

“We rode in an open cab, no roof. Luckily it was a nice day. He was driving and I was riding,” McClellan recalled. “We were the third truck going there and I knew from that point that’s what I wanted to do, and it was just a simple brush fire.”

McClellan said he was excited by the sound of the sirens, the truck, the fire and getting the train to come through slowly.

From a young age, he knew he wanted to be where the action was.

He was also inspired by his father-in-law, Richard “Dick” Morris, who was a firefighter and selectman in Tewksbury for years.

In addition, his brother-inlaw Bill Dalton was a Chelmsford firefighter and selectman. And the family tradition continues. McClellan’s son, Adam McClellan, has been a firefighter in Lexington for 10 years.

After 35 years, McClellan said he still loves coming to work, but he is looking forward to traveling and spending time with his family. In addition to his son, he’s got the company of his three grandchildren (10-month old Charlotte, 3-year-old Owen and 10-year-old Colin), his daughter, Kiley, and his wife, Kathy, to enjoy.

“One of the things I’m not going to miss is throughout the years my family has supported me not being there for birthdays, holidays,” he said. “Always listening to the scanner and just being nervous about what’s going on. I think that’s the truth for every firefighter’s family.”