Mayor Casale presents Chase the city’s certificate of appreciation
BEACON – It was more than just the annual open house day on Saturday for the Beacon Fire Department.
Fire Chief Gary Van Voorhis named Chase Piotrowski, 7, of Beacon an honorary fireman. Young Chase was playing outside his home last Thursday when he spotted a forest fire and alerted his mother, who called 911. City firefighters responded immediately and extinguished the 10-foot-high flames.
Chase, who was surprised at receiving a real fireman’s helmet with his name on it, said the firemen were the real heroes for putting the fire out. His mom, Tara, grandfather, Jim O’Brien, brother Jake and sister Caitlyn all stood by proudly as the fire chief placed the helmet on his head. Mayor Randy Casale presented him with a city proclamation and the firefighters union gave him an official Beacon fireman’s t-shirt.
The Beacon Fire Department is comprised of career firefighters and volunteers. Casale said that perhaps Chase will want to become a fireman when he grows up.
“A community is only as good as its volunteers and it is getting harder and harder to attract volunteers to this profession,” the mayor said. I urge people that have time to try to get involved.”
Chief Van Voorhis noted the problem of recruiting volunteers is universal and not just limited to the City of Beacon.
