Gelbaugh To Retire As Winona Lake Fire Chief
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Roger Gelbaugh will miss serving the community most, and the friendships he has made while serving as Winona Lake's fire chief over the years.
Gelbaugh, who has served as Winona Lake's fire chief for the past 15 years, is retiring after 35 years of service with the department.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega read Gelbaugh's letter of resignation at the council's Dec. 12 meeting.
Gelbaugh's resignation will be effective Dec. 31.
"I will miss the firefighters in my department and in the county who I have made friendships with that will last forever," he said.
He said though his decision to retire was hard to make, he is looking forward to a fire chief replacing him and bringing new ideas to the department.
The department has recommended Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Titus to replace Gelbaugh. Titus has been on the department for 11 years and served as Winona Lake's assistant fire chief for the past year.
"I know that he will do a good job as fire chief of the department and I hope that the council will support the department's choice," Gelbaugh said.
The town council will vote on approving Titus as fire chief at its Dec. 27 meeting and the new fire chief selected will begin duties Jan. 1.
Gelbaugh received the Fireman of The Year Award and a letter of recognition from the American Red Cross for his years of service at the department's Dec. 9 Christmas party.
Gelbaugh's son, Kevin, will continue to serve as the department's lieutenant fire chief.
Gelbaugh said he first started with the department Oct. 5, 1971, as a firefighter in the former fire station located across from the Boathouse Restaurant on Park Avenue.
Former Fire Captain Bob Wulliman influenced Gelbaugh in joining the Winona Lake Fire Department.
Gelbaugh held other positions including lieutenant fire captain and assistant fire chief before becoming the department's fire chief in 1991.
"We started with three trucks, a grass fire truck and two fire engines," Gelbaugh said.
He said the current fire department on Kings Highway was built in 1985, and now has two fire engines, a tanker, ladder truck, rescue truck and a Gator all-terrain vehicle.
His first day as fire chief, he set a goal that no firefighter would be injured in the line of duty.
"I am proud to say during these 15 years we have never had one serious injury," Gelbaugh said.
The department currently has 28 active volunteer firemen who provide service to Winona Lake and are contracted by Wayne Township to provide service to the eastern and southern parts of Wayne Township.
Gelbaugh said his favorite memories have been teaching fire prevention safety to students.
He said there have been many changes in technology and fire equipment at the fire department over the years.
Some of the technology changes, Gelbaugh said, include the department has more airpacks to prevent firefighters from breathing in toxic gases from homes and buildings. The department had five airpacks in 1971 and have 28 today.
The department also has pass devices that sound in a fire if a firefighter falls down, as well as thermal imaging cameras to allow firefighters to find victims in fires.
Gelbaugh said his retirement plans include spending time with his grandchildren and wife, Nora, traveling and fishing. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Roger Gelbaugh will miss serving the community most, and the friendships he has made while serving as Winona Lake's fire chief over the years.
Gelbaugh, who has served as Winona Lake's fire chief for the past 15 years, is retiring after 35 years of service with the department.
Town Council President Rolly Ortega read Gelbaugh's letter of resignation at the council's Dec. 12 meeting.
Gelbaugh's resignation will be effective Dec. 31.
"I will miss the firefighters in my department and in the county who I have made friendships with that will last forever," he said.
He said though his decision to retire was hard to make, he is looking forward to a fire chief replacing him and bringing new ideas to the department.
The department has recommended Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Titus to replace Gelbaugh. Titus has been on the department for 11 years and served as Winona Lake's assistant fire chief for the past year.
"I know that he will do a good job as fire chief of the department and I hope that the council will support the department's choice," Gelbaugh said.
The town council will vote on approving Titus as fire chief at its Dec. 27 meeting and the new fire chief selected will begin duties Jan. 1.
Gelbaugh received the Fireman of The Year Award and a letter of recognition from the American Red Cross for his years of service at the department's Dec. 9 Christmas party.
Gelbaugh's son, Kevin, will continue to serve as the department's lieutenant fire chief.
Gelbaugh said he first started with the department Oct. 5, 1971, as a firefighter in the former fire station located across from the Boathouse Restaurant on Park Avenue.
Former Fire Captain Bob Wulliman influenced Gelbaugh in joining the Winona Lake Fire Department.
Gelbaugh held other positions including lieutenant fire captain and assistant fire chief before becoming the department's fire chief in 1991.
"We started with three trucks, a grass fire truck and two fire engines," Gelbaugh said.
He said the current fire department on Kings Highway was built in 1985, and now has two fire engines, a tanker, ladder truck, rescue truck and a Gator all-terrain vehicle.
His first day as fire chief, he set a goal that no firefighter would be injured in the line of duty.
"I am proud to say during these 15 years we have never had one serious injury," Gelbaugh said.
The department currently has 28 active volunteer firemen who provide service to Winona Lake and are contracted by Wayne Township to provide service to the eastern and southern parts of Wayne Township.
Gelbaugh said his favorite memories have been teaching fire prevention safety to students.
He said there have been many changes in technology and fire equipment at the fire department over the years.
Some of the technology changes, Gelbaugh said, include the department has more airpacks to prevent firefighters from breathing in toxic gases from homes and buildings. The department had five airpacks in 1971 and have 28 today.
The department also has pass devices that sound in a fire if a firefighter falls down, as well as thermal imaging cameras to allow firefighters to find victims in fires.
Gelbaugh said his retirement plans include spending time with his grandchildren and wife, Nora, traveling and fishing. [[In-content Ad]]