HANGING UP HIS HELMET — Toronto Fire Chief Bill Scheel will retire later this month after serving the city’s fire department for about 30 years and as a local firefighter for 44 years. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — After serving Toronto’s Fire Department for about 30 years, nine and a half of them as chief, Bill Scheel will be hanging up his helmet and retiring at the end of this month.

Scheel has 44 years of firefighting behind him, counting about 14 years he served as a volunteer firefighter in Stratton, where he grew up.

“I got my fire card a month after I graduated from high school,” said Scheel, a 1982 graduate of the former Stanton High School.

He said he was one of many young men from the village who volunteered for its fire department.

“When I was growing up, that’s what everybody did after they graduated from high school. They joined the fire department,” said Scheel.

Scheel said his children were attending S.C. Dennis Elementary School when he learned through a Toronto police officer that the city’s paid department was testing for new firefighters.

Scheel called Frank McEwen, the chief at the time, one evening and learned applications were due the following morning.

He said today it’s more difficult to recruit new firefighters, especially for volunteer companies.

“The fire service has changed tremendously since I started,” said Scheel.

He noted protective gear and other equipment have evolved from the plastic helmet, heavy raincoat and high rubber boots he once wore.

Scheel said there’s also more training involved, with firefighters receiving instruction for calls ranging from swift water rescues to the extrication of occupants from crashed vehicles to fires or accidents involving hazardous materials.

He said medical calls also have become more frequent, with many departments forming first responder medical units that didn’t exist in the late 1970s.

“In my first 28 years, we would receive 150 to 175 calls in a year. This year we have received about 330 calls to date. A lot of those are medical calls,” said Scheel.

Of the additional roles expected of fire departments, he said, “Times change and if you want to grow, you have to adapt.”

Scheel said he believes the firefighters’ part in providing emergency aid has resulted in their being closer to the residents they serve.

“It kind of shows people we’re not just sitting around (waiting for fire calls) and getting fat. We want to do our part to serve the community,” he said.

Asked what he has enjoyed most about his job, Scheel said he likes being able to interact with people during a Touch a Truck event, the distribution of smoke detectors to local homes and other events.

“Most of the time, we see people on the worst day of their life, whether it’s a house fire or vehicle accident or whatever,” he said.

Scheel said he’s not stepping down because he no longer loves his job.

“I still have the passion and the ability to do the job. I just think after a while, you need somebody with a fresh perspective,” he said.

Scheel’s successor is slated to be chosen from the captains serving under him.

Asked any advice he would give to any new fire chief, Scheel said, “Respect your employees and listen to them. I may think I have the answer, and somebody comes up with a better solution.”

“I worked for a guy who never said that I worked for him. He always said I worked with him.”

Scheel said he will have to adjust to not wearing a uniform, as he has done on most days since 1986.

In addition to serving as a firefighter, Scheel is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve and worked for four years as a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy and for a time on a Stratton street crew.

But he’s also looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Penny, and their children and grandchildren.

Scheel said he’s very thankful for Penny’s support through the years, noting there were many family dinners and other occasions interrupted by an emergency call.

“The pager goes off and she knows I’m going. And she never blinked twice,” he said.

Scheel said he’s also looking forward to participating in a mission trip in Peru with fellow members of Crossroads North River Church and may take up golfing again.

Of his impending departure, he said, “It’s a little bittersweet. I’ve been in public service most of my life.”