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Reception for Retiring Fire Chief This Sunday
» Mary Bernhard - Manhattan American - 09.11.08


Manhattan area residents are invited to attend a reception for Fire Chief John (Jack) Fitzgerald as he steps down after more than 52 years of service with the Manhattan Fire Department.

The reception is being held at Fire Station 1 on Park Road, from 1 to 4 p.m., on Sunday, September 14.

Fitzgerald started his fire fighting career in 1956 at the age of 16; his early calling was to join Manhattan's Volunteer Fire Department.

"My mom and dad had to write a letter of permission, because I was under the age of 18," Fitzgerald recalled. "You could do that back then."

Since his humble beginnings in 1956, Fitzgerald progressed through certifications for Firefighter II, III and State Certified Paramedic.

Eleven years after joining the fire department, Fitzgerald was promoted to assistant chief in 1967, and in 1992 he served the department as deputy chief.

In 1998, Fitzgerald was appointed as Manhattan's Fire Chief.

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When asked what he was most proud of throughout his fire fighting career, the actual battle of the blaze was secondary to the achievements in the growth of the department.

"We had three referendums passed, two while I was chief and one as deputy chief," Fitzgerald responded. "The passing of the referendums for the ambulance, the addition of part-time fire fighters and finally, full-time fire fighters, all on the first try, shows how much support and faith our community has in us. That is something to be proud of."

Fitzgerald added that the well-maintained equipment, which is the best Manhattan can afford, and the best trained group of volunteers and paid firefighters are also somethings to be proud of.

"The third thing would be the commercial sprinkler ordinance recently passed by the village," Fitzgerald said. "We worked very had on that. That ordinance involves the fireman's safety and the buildings."

Fitzgerald is confident he is leaving the department in good hands.

"Dan (Forsythe) is doing a good job. He has been a battalion chief and is now a deputy chief," Fitzgerald said. "Between Danny and our other officers, the district will be in good hands."

Be sure and come out and wish both Jack and his wife, Judy, well for the future.

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