retiring fire chief Tim Rye

Reminiscing with former fire chief Tim Rye: The best, the worst and the unforgettable

Former Hamilton Fire Chief Tim Rye sits at his desk on Feb. 24 during his last week on the job before his retirement after 36 years in the fire service.

Former Hamilton Fire Chief Tim Rye sits at his desk on Feb. 24 during his last week on the job before his retirement after 36 years in the fire service.

HAMILTON — After 36 years in the fire service, beginning as a volunteer in 1990, going full-time in 1996 and acting as fire chief since 2013, Tim Rye of Hamilton retired on March 1.

After the FIRE...

You went to sleep near midnight after calls to two wrecks and one heart attack. You’d been asleep for about an hour when the alarm sounded. You jumped into your turnout gear and climbed on the back of the fire truck.
You could see the flames a block away. You jumped off the truck and pulled a hose and connected it to the hydrant. When the signal came, you turned on the water and then ran down the street to join your crew in attacking the blaze.

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