By Layla Kalinen
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
SPRINGFIELD,Vt.— After 42 years of fire service Springfield Fire Chief Russell Thompson is retiring and will pass the torch to former Deputy now Fire Chief Paul Stagner.
Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, Officials and friends gathered to give Chief Thompson a bittersweet farewell.
Thompson said he got his start right out of the high school gate in the United States Air Force.
“I entered the Air Force in 1976 as a firefighter. At the time you could choose your career path.
So I went in with the classification of firefighter. I went through basic training and got what was the equivalent of a firefighter (level) at the time.”
Thompson went on to say that in Vermont level 2 is the highest. He did specify that there are other different status levels nationwide but they are connected to for profit organizations. The level 1 and 2 are, according to Thompson Vermont’s primary system for measuring experience and training.
“The National Fire Protection Association identifies the minimum qualifications for a fighter fighter one is the base of knowledge and skill sets. Then a firefighter two adds another leg,” Thompson said, “I’m so old that years and years ago there was a firefight three that had 1,000 hours of training along with the educational part. Then they did away with firefighter three about a decade later.”
Thompson went to the State University Of New York where he holds a bachelor’s degree in business and economics with a fire service degree.
Kevin Anderson, Retired VSP and former leader of school safety in Springfield had some memories about his work with Fire Chief Thompson.
“He has led this department to become one of the elite fire departments in the state. He pushed his men to get certified at many different levels and capacities. He has helped so many of us work together. I remember when I was working as state police he helped me look at law enforcement to bomb threats from the fire departments perspective,” Anderson said,
“So then school safety- I also worked for the Springfield School District after the state police. We worked hand in hand to improve response of law enforcement, fire, ems to the schools. In today’s world it’s tougher and tougher to do that. He’s a great guy.”
Chief Thompson recalled his days as he was leaving the Air Force , finishing up college and he said he sent resumes and cover letters to every municipality with over 6,000 people.
“I had my resumes all over the state. I get a call I think it was Wednesday morning from Chief Lamphere. He said, ‘‘We’re testing for a firefighter position in Springfield, Vermont.”
At the time Chief Thompson lived in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and his parents lived 30 minutes north.
“My predecessor, Chief Puggy Lamphere, calls me and says we are testing this Saturday. I got lost and wound up in Springfield, New Hampshire at some guy’s house with a fire engine in an attached garage next to his house. But I still made it on time to test and got a job,” Thompson said. Fire Chief Thompson was hired as a firefighter and EMT at the age of 21.
Fire Chief Thompson said that he is excited to spend more time with his beloved wife, work on training his shepherd dog, ‘Calla’ and he said he hasn’t fished in 20 years.
Fire Chief Paul Stagner said Chief Thompson has brought many new levels and ways to the department in fire and medical response and emergency rescue protocol and training.
“These are going to be some big shoes to fill,” Chief Stagner said.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.