City officials joined the Collinsville Fire Department and their families Thursday evening in Fire Station 1 for what is believed to be the first promotion ceremony held by the Collinsville Fire Department.
Mayor John Miller, a member of the fire department from 1973 until he retired in 2004, gave the keynote address. His days as an officer were more tiring and stressful than as a firefighter, he told the crowd.
“Making sure they (the firefighters) went home to you, their families, was my most important duty,” the former captain said.
Miller also gave the new leaders advice on leadership.
“Lead by example, not by the book, not by what people tell you,” Miller said. “Send people where you would go.”
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- Tim Rainey being pinned by his wife while Fire Chief Mark Emert shares a laugh with Rainey’s oldest daughter / Photo by Roger Starkey
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- Assistant Fire Chief Dale Kyrouac / Submitted Photo
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- Carson Tate pins a bugle on his dad, Colter Tate, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Brother Carter watches / Photo by Roger Starkey
Dale Kyrouac, a 22-year-veteran of the department, was promoted to assistant chief. Kyrouac, who also served four years as an Air Force firefighter and flew Blackhawk helicopters in the first Gulf War for the Army, called the moment overwhelming and credited his fellow firemen for his success.
“The hard work and dedication that everyone at the department has put in has helped me move up,” Kyrouac said. “A lot of credit goes to them.”
Newly minted captain, Tim Rainey, said he was very excited about the promotion, and that his 14 years with the department were a labor of love.
“When you do what you love, you never work a day in your life,” Rainey said, quoting a phrase of unknown origin.
Colter Tate, a six-year veteran of the Collinsville Fire Department, is just beginning the journey of being promoted through the ranks, which he said has always been his goal. He was promoted from firefighter to lieutenant.
As a bird flew through the rafters, Fire Chief Mark Emert reminded those in attendance that the ceremony was being held at a working fire station. If an alarm goes off at some point, remain seated, he said, while the fireman rush out to work. Despite his prediction of a large blaze interrupting the ceremony, it concluded without an alarm.
The successful ceremony and reception that flollwed was a group effort, Emert said
“I could not be more proud of how the department has pitched in and pulled together to make this night special,” Emert said.
