Melbourne District Fire Chief retires

Long-time Melbourne firefighter and District Fire Chief Murray Hathaway has retired.

Strathroy-Caradoc Council recognized him at its Nov. 19 meeting, as Mayor Joanne Vanderheyden presented him with a certificate and a gift in honour of his 49 years of service to the community. He retired as of Nov. 19.

District Chief Hathaway joined the Caradoc Township Fire Department, Melbourne Fire Station, in 1963 as a firefighter. In 1983 Murray was appointed Fire Chief of the Melbourne Station and continued in that capacity until 2001 when Strathroy and Caradoc Township amalgamated. Following amalgamation Murray continued with the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Department as District Fire Chief of the Melbourne Station and was instrumental in assisting with the seamless transition of the combined Fire Services of Strathroy-Caradoc.

Throughout his career, Chief Hathaway has been an active member of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, the Middlesex County Mutual Aid Fire Association and the Middlesex County Mutual Aid Training Association.

In addition to his duties as District Fire Chief of the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Department, Murray assisted with Fire Prevention duties for the County of Middlesex in the capacity of Fire Investigator, and is currently continuing with these duties.