The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
50 years of service
Drakeville Volunteer Fire Dept. chief honored
TORRINGTON — A volunteer has to start at quite a young age to reach the hallmark of 50 years of service.
That’s exactly what Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Maccalous did, joining at 14 as a junior explorer.
In the ensuing years, he’s moved up through the ranks from firefighter to lieutenant and on up the ladder to the chief’s position, which he’s held for 18 years.
Maccalous was recognized for his five decades of service Wednesday at the Board of Safety meeting in the City Hall Auditorium. Mayor Elinor Carbone presented him with a certificate and read the commendation.
“Your commitment to the department and public safety for half a century is to be commended... Our community is strengthened by the hard work of volunteers such as you,” Carbone read. “(The city appreciates your efforts to safeguard the lives and property of others through your time with the Drakeville Fire Department.
“It’s unbelievable how much has changed (since 1968),” Maccalous said Thursday. “The requirements now are so much more than they used to be.”
He said when he joined, new firefighters learned while they were at the scene of fires. Now, qualifying for a Firefighter I certification requires 200 hours of classes.
The Drakeville volunteers supported the Torrington Fire Department on July 21 in response to a three-alarm fire at a Lakeridge home. Maccalous said a tanker from his department supplied additional water because the supply from water hydrants in the area was not sufficient.
“I’m proud of our department,” Maccalous said. They responded with engines, he said, and helped move hoses, operated a rapid attack nozzle and did “a bit of everything.”
Maccalous noted that the volunteers worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the career firefighters.
The tanker used to respond to the Lakeridge fire, known as Tanker 38, is the first vehicle to be purchased by the city for the volunteers. The two other vehicles owned by the department, Engine 35, built in 1989, and a brush truck, were purchased with donations collected from residents in the district, Maccalous said.
Given his seniority, Maccalous’ tenure far exceeds other members of the department. The second-longest serving member, Tom Harmon, has 15 years with Drakeville.
“He is good at leading a group of
guys,” Harmon said. “He tells us things we don’t know about and learn it though everyday activities.”
“Everybody just gets along. You know what to expect and what everybody needs to do,” Harmon added.
Although he’s reached the half-century mark, Maccalous said he doesn’t plan to retire from the department anytime soon. He does, however, expect to retire in the next few years from his day job as the owner of HandyMac Services, a home contracting and handyman company.
When Maccalous does retire, the department
will still have his surname on their roster, connected with David, the elder firefighter’s son.
If there were one thing Maccalous would like the public to know about the volunteer department. it is the urgent need for more volunteers.
“I’d be happy to have 20 members,” he said. “It’s very, very hard to find volunteers. It’s the biggest problem we have.”
To learn about becoming a volunteer firefighter in the Drakeville department, check for the application online. Or, interested residents or employees in Torrington can call 860-482-6694 for information. The department also has a Facebook page that provides updates on recent responses and upcoming events.