Paden City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Richmond was recently recognized by the Department for seventy years of service as a volunteer firefighter. The eighty-eight year old Fire Chief still serves as an active member of the Department, responding to calls and, if needed, climbs to the Control Console of the Department’s Pierce Apparatus to control the pumping operation of the truck. Mr. Richmond graduated from Paden City High School in 1952 and joined the Volunteer Fire Department the following year. When asked about the Department’s different fire trucks during those earlier years, Mr. Richmond offered the following history: when he joined the Department in 1953 at the age of eighteen, the Department had a 1936 Dodge chassis with an American LaFrance apparatus mounted to it. A new GMC truck with an American LaFrance apparatus was acquired in 1957. In 1967, a Ford chassis with Suphen apparatus was purchased. In 1977, the first diesel powered truck was purchased. It was a Ford chassis with a Pierce apparatus. Chief Richmond stated it has always been the Paden City Department’s preference to have fire fighting apparatus with the pump operator’s position up on the truck rather than down on the ground. Although the design incorporating the pump operator up on the truck is a more expensive arrangement, it provides for improved observation by the pump operator of the fire event and the personnel involved and is a safer location for the pump operator, as opposed to being on the ground.

Chief Richmond stated that firefighting has become more technical throughout the years, requiring more training and enjoying innovations in equipment such as thermal imaging devices and improvements in self-contained breathing apparatus. Chief Richmond also remarked regarding the trend from multistage water pumps of the past to larger single stage water pumps in the modern era. The Chief has served as a fire trainer and instructor since 1965 teaching throughout the eastern United States, and passing on his knowledge of basic firefighting skills, hazardous materials skills, fire officers training, and general safety training to hundreds, and quite likely, thousands of people. The Chief mentioned that there’s not as many volunteers as there once was, and that has created a scarcity of manpower for volunteer departments.

In addition to his fire service, Mr. Richmond has served many years, and continues to serve, as a First Ward Council Member on Paden City’s Council. It has been and continues to be a busy and full life of community service for Jim Richmond.