Fire chief, city icon dies

October 01, 2008 10:55 am

— Danie M. Huffman
wdreporter2@yahoo.com
When it comes to service, one name in Springtown Fire was repeated over and over Tuesday.
Mike Medford, Springtown’s Fire Chief, died of health problems early Tuesday.
A sadness hung over the department as co-workers and friends recalled of Medford’s selfless acts.
Debbie McLemore, Springtown Fire ESD No. 1 district administrative assistant, said the day was hectic.
“It’s just such a huge loss,” she said tearfully. “I don’t think anybody could command a fire scene as well as him, especially grass fires.”
Greg Martin, ESD1 board commissioner, said Medford, 52, took just about every position imaginable within the ranks from chaplain to chief during his tenure with the department.
“He was always here any time the tone went off,” Martin said. “He knew every inch of the county and was instrumental in helping departments, trucks and firefighters get to any emergency call.”
Martin went on to say Medford, who began volunteer firefighting in high school, helped bring the department from a skeleton crew of volunteers to a professionally run department.
“It took years with lots of help, but he recruited,” Martin said. “He literally was a chief over the crew — in and away from the department.”
He describes Medford’s firefighting ethics as deeply caring and was dedicated to the department since the mid ’70s.
“If he wasn’t working or with his daughters, he was here [at the station],” Martin said.
He added Medford is credited for the current two-story facility.
“We owe it to him because he basically did a lot of the work,” Martin said. “He worked with the board and city to boost the department’s ISO (Fire Suppressant Rating).”
The increased rating helped Springtown residents see a decrease in their insurance premiums by improving the department’s firefighting standards.
Friends said Medford suffered a series strokes in the last few years and died early Tuesday around 7 a.m.
“Nobody made a decision around here without him knowing about it,” Martin said. “He’d give you the shirt off his back.
Martin said despite his health issues, Medford remained active in the department and at work.
Medford worked as a lineman with Tri-County Electric since 1979.
His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Springtown at 500 N. Main St. A viewing will be held at White’s Funeral Home in Springtown.
Medford is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer Medford, 31, Wendie Ford, 29, and Misty Long, 24; six grandchildren — one on the way; and his mother, Ann Medford Bates.
Mutual aid departments volunteered to respond to Springtown ESD1’s calls until after the funeral Saturday.
“We’d like to thank our neighboring departments for covering our area during this difficult time when we mourn the loss of a great comrade,” said Mike Ellis, Springtown Fire Battalion chief.
Ellis said Medford earned the chief’s helmet about 10 years ago and wore it with pride.
He began fighting fire with Medford in 1982.
“You could always tell fire service was number one to him,” Ellis said. “Everything he did was for the department and the community. He always did what it took to get the job done.”
He described Medford as a “top notch guy.”
“There’s been several times when my life’s depended on it and I never worried about my safety when I was around him,” he added.
Ellis recalled an incident when the pair were the only firefighters to respond to a mobile home fire. He said the house was almost completely engulfed in flames and Medford jumped right in.
“We managed to stop the fire and put it out pretty quick,” he said. “He was inside, outside, around the truck — he moved so quick and had everything under control,” he said. “He always knew where every man was at and what they were doing. He was so efficient, even after his stroke. When he got on to you, it was as a friend, not as a chief who would scold you.”
Ellis paused, choking back tears. “He was easy-going and soft spoken, but the words he used impacted you. He’s going to be missed. The fire department will never be the same. We lost a rock.”

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