Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:43 PM CDT
City of Mattoon plans to close airport fire station
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Upcoming changes for the Fire Department include fewer firefighters and closure of one fire station.
And there will be a new fire chief in charge on Oct. 1. That decision became official Wednesday night with a vote by Mattoon City Council members in a special meeting.
The upcoming retirements of fire Chief Mike Chism and Assistant Chief Andy Adair are part of the attrition to reduce the firefighter numbers by six over the next three years — that would bring the total rank and file down from 36 to 30. Adair will be replaced by three shift captains, but one firefighter taking a job in Bloomington will not be replaced, Chism said. Retirements are expected to reduce four positions in a couple of years as well.
The reduction in personnel will also close Mattoon Fire Station 2 at Coles County Memorial Airport in the near future, Chism said. Stations 1 & 3 will remain at Mattoon City Hall and Marshall Avenue and 27th Street, respectively.
“It will close soon, but we will still protect the airport,” Chism said.
The reductions in staff and closure of a fire station will not cut back on the quality of the fire department, Chism said.
“We’ll still protect the city, and remain a highly trained department. That will not change,” Chism said.
Both Chism and Adair expressed confidence in newly appointed fire Chief Tony Nichols, who will be learning from men he has known much of his life. Nichols, 39, is the son of a retired fire captain and has nearly 15 years with MPD. He is also a Navy veteran of the Persian Gulf War, serving on an aircraft carrier.
“Tony is well trained and he knows the operations. He knows the direction this department needs to go, especially toward emergency medical services. He’s one of the guys you always look for at a fire scene,” said Chism, who will retire in October.
“Tony brings with him the respect of his co-workers and his abilities have advanced his career,” said Adair, who will retire in August.
Both Chism and Adair will help with the transition for Nichols and his shift captains, Denny Kingery, Doug Dodson and Mitch Strader, MFD veterans with a total of more than 65 years in the department. The outgoing chief and assistant chief will assist with cross-training in coming weeks.
Nichols said he is encouraged by the team he will be working with.
“With these shift captains you have three reliable guys with plenty of experience. And they all give 110 percent and have the respect of firefighters when they ask them to do something,” Nichols said.
The shift captains will fulfill the duties of the assistant fire chief position, which is being eliminated as part of the cost-cutting strategy of city leaders.
Nichols will be one of the youngest fire chiefs for the city in decades, Chism confirmed. The outgoing chief believes that is an advantage because the future of firefighting and emergency operations call for new technologies and techniques.
“There have been a lot of changes in operations for this department over the last few years. So having a younger outlook can help you see what is needed in the future,” Chism said.
But Adair noted that Nichols will face a big challenge during his tenure as chief.
“He will be doing this with less firefighters around,” he said.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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Harry Potter wrote on Jun 26, 2009 8:24 AM: