By Aila Boyd
Mike Durham, former chief of the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, was presented with a House of Delegates commendation at the May meeting of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Jason Ferguson, the chief of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Botetourt County, presented the commendation to Durham.
Del. Terry Austin (R-19) requested the commendation to honor Durham’s dedication to the department that he has served as the chief of for over a decade.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” Durham said to the members of the Board of Supervisors.
Durham retired from his post as chief in December of last year. Although he has retired from being the chief, he is still active at the department. He currently serves as second in command. He has spent more than 25 years at the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.
“We felt it important to honor and recognize the over a decade of service in the capacity of volunteer fire chief,” Ferguson said.
Chairman of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors Billy Martin stressed that the Board of Supervisors was especially thankful for Durham’s service considering all the time that has been diverted away from his family in order to serve the citizens of Blue Ridge.
“Chief, thank you for your service, for your longevity, and for all the hard work you’ve done in the Blue Ridge area,” Martin said. “I’m going to miss seeing Chief Durham down there. You’ve been there so long, it’s like you’re an icon in the community.”
The commendation reads in part, “The House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia hereby offers sincere congratulations to Mike Durham in recognition of his retirement after more than 25 years of service with the Blue Ridge Fire Department and more than a decade as the volunteer fire chief.”
Before the meeting, the newest firetruck for the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department was on display at the front of the Greenfield Education and Training Center.
Martin described the truck as being “a beautiful truck” and a “nice piece of equipment.” Durham noted that the members of the fire department are looking forward to getting to use it.
