By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Greenfield, MA) District Chief Michael Swain has announced his retirement as District Chief from the Greenfield Fire Department. Swain has been part of the department since 1981 and has been District Chief since 2004. Swain served the community of Greenfield for 39 years.
Swain said that continued training and learning are key to success in his position, and he is grateful that he was able to keep up with trends and changes in technology over his career, something that can be challenging as an on call member of the department.
”I would remind anybody in a leadership position to help your department members train and learn and that you yourself keep up your training and learning,” said Swain.
Helping others was one of the most rewarding part of Swain’s career, he said, but there were challenging moments.
”My hardest moments were fatal fires that I responded to and especially fatal fires that involved children,” said Swain.
Swain said he will miss working with the members of the Greenfield Fire Department had helping members of the community.
No word yet on who will replace Swain as District Chief.