Fire department hires new assistant chief

Joseph Page had no idea what he was getting into when he first joined the Vista Volunteer Fire Department in New York in 1983. He just knew he wanted to be involved in the community.

The reality of the job quickly set in. Days of actually fighting fires were few and far between — there was rarely Hollywood-type drama. As a former high school football coach, Page uses a gridiron analogy to describe his time as a volunteer firefighter.

“There was a lot of practice for just a few games,” Page told the Pilot in a recent interview.

Yet, those days on the Vista crew sparked his interest in the line of work, particularly the aspect of training staff and educating the public about fire prevention and safety.

Now, with 30 years of experience in the arena, Page joins the Whitefish Fire Department as the assistant fire chief and fire marshal. His first day on the job was Jan. 7.

“People love this line of work or they don’t,” Page said. “It becomes a passion for some.”

For Page, the enjoyment comes from the diversity of the work, as well as the satisfaction of helping people on a daily basis.

After working at a handful of fire departments in the Northeast, Page eventually took a job at the Elk Creek Fire Department in Colorado where he worked under current Whitefish Fire Chief Tom Kennelly. Page was the chief administrative coordinator and the training and safety officer in Elk Creek before joining the Whitefish department.

Kennelly said Page emerged as the best candidate for the assistant chief position after sorting through a deep pool of applicants from across the nation. It was Page’s veteran experience that set him apart.

As assistant chief, Page is second in command in the department. As fire marshal, Page will be tasked with training staff, performing fire safety inspections and educating the public about fire safety and prevention. He plans to be active in the wildland fire arena, as well as promoting CPR education.

“I intend to get out and be seen in the community,” Page said.

Kennelly says Page has a lot on his plate, but his 30 years of experience should be a great benefit.

The Whitefish Fire Department was been without an assistant chief and fire marshal since Doug Loy retired in July of 2011.