John Viola has kept busy during his time in Haverford Township.
He’s the township’s police chief, but you’ll also have found him serving for the past 43 years as the Brookline Fire Company’s fire chief.
Now he’s retiring as fire chief, writes Matteo Iadonisi for 6abc.
“It was time for the younger guys to step up and take over,” said Viola. “I always wanted to leave the place better than I started.”
He joined Brookline as a teenage volunteer firefighter in 1967.
Viola responded to countless fires and received a medal of valor for rescuing a baby girl from a second-story window.
He says anyone in his company would have done the same.
The Haverford Township Board of Commissioners presented him with a proclamation in December for his years of volunteer service.
“The next generation is coming in here now who wants to be involved. They are involved,” he said.
Viola said he will still be active at Brookline, as a new chief, 37-year member Steven Poole, takes over.
“You couldn’t ask for a better thing to do to help your community, to join the fire service,” Viola said.
Read more about John Viola’s time as fire chief at Brookline Fire Company at 6abc.
