GREENVILLE — “I’m excited. I had a great career and it’s coming to a close,” remarked Greenville Fire Chief Mark Wolf minutes before taking the traditional “Ride Home” on a fire truck Friday afternoon.
A firefighter of 40 years, he has begun transitioning to his next assignment with Emergency Reporting as a trainer.
He left Sunday en route to San Diego, California, to start his new job today.
“I’ll be working from home and travel,” he said.
Wolf, who got a little emotional prior to this final ride home, said his most memorable fire was the one on Montgomery Street in 2007, plus a fire early in his career in late winter 1989 on Gray Avenue.
“The room we were in collapsed but we got out in time,” he said.
Wolf said he was injured three times in his firefighting career and taken to the hospital from the fire scenes.
“I was involved in too may close calls,” said the Cincinnati native. “In fact, I shouldn’t be standing here today.”
Serving as interim chief until a new one is hired is Capt. Russ Thompson.
“They will be testing in September,” Wolf said.
Wolf has been with Greenville Fire Department for 28 years and was named chief in July 2002.
“Working with these guys in here has been an awesome experience,” he remarked with some emotion.
Among those there to witness his send-off were his wife, Tara; parents-in-law, Doug and Karen Lowder; children, Allison and Brandon Wolf; and stepdaughter Tess McClure. Another stepdaughter, Kelsey McClure, was unable to be there. Also among well-wishers was Janice Mills, who served as Wolfe’s secretary, all those years he was chief and even when he was captain for two years prior to that.
“Yes, I’ll miss him,” said Mills. “That’s what I like about this job. It’s a challenge. Mark taught me a lot. In here, you learn about their families,. It’s a fun, fun job. I don’t look at it as work, I look at it as coming to in to see friends.”
The feelings were mutual.
“My success is due to her,” Wolf said pointing to Mills prior to his departure Friday.
“I am happy for my father,” said Allison. “It’s very exciting and bittersweet. We moved here when I was 4 months old. I was really excited when I was in third grade and all the students came to the fire department for show and tell. It was exciting to see them coming in with axes and turnout gear. We [the family] would sometimes visit him during his shift. I’m 28 now 28 and living in Columbus. I came back for this big event…this and the [Great Darke County] fair.
Assistant Fire Chief Dave McDermitt retired at the end of June.
Before coming to Greenville, Wolf served as a firefighter and EMT with the Withamsville Volunteer Fire Department and Montgomery Community Fire Company.
Wolf’s leaving, however, is not a retirement, but represents a new career opportunity for the longtime chief, it was noted in a previous interview.
Greenville Safety/Service Director Curt Garrison had this to say about Wolf: “I would like to thank Chief Wolf for his service with the City of Greenville. I would like to wish Mark well with his future endeavors and hope that he finds happiness in his new career. Although Mark will be leaving, he will be taking many years of experience and vast knowledge of the fire business with him, his mark (pun intended) will be left on this department for many years to come.”
At Greenville City Council’s July 5 meeting, Garrison announced dates for civil service examinations for positions within the Greenville Fire Department. The Beginning Firefighter exam is scheduled for Tuesday and has been posted on the city’s website (www.CityofGreenville.org). Garrison said the lieutenant test will be administered Sept. 13; the test for captain to take place Sept. 8; the assistant fire chief test on Aug. 10; and the fire chief’s promotional exam will be on Sept. 6.
Those interested should contact the Greenville City Mayor’s Office at 937-548-1482 for more information.
