By Nicole Orne
Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont)

HALIFAX, Vt. — While a lot has changed in the 50 years Chief Wayne Courser has been with the Halifax Volunteer Fire Department, he says some things are still the same.

Courser, who has served as chief for the last 37 years, is known for his jokes and his humble attitude, as well as his contribution to the department and the community.

On any given day, he can be found lending his services to the town or out in front of the fire house, keeping the equipment in good shape.

"I like to visit people," he said. "I'll be outside tinkering and someone will stop to talk. I don't get much work done but that's how you find out things."

Courser has become a pillar of the community over the years, firefighter John LaFlamme said. "He's always done so much for everyone else. Any time you need a ride, help with anything. He does a tremendous amount for the fire department."

There was no established fire department when Courser was young. "If the town grader went by, that's where my eyes went," he said.

He ended up being drawn to the road crew, where he worked for 40 years, retiring in 1997.

When Courser first joined the department in 1958, it was still in its fledgling stages, with very little equipment. He helped convert a used tank truck, installing a pump for use as a fire truck.

Through his efforts, the equipment and technology have grown dramatically since then. "I think we've progressed quite a little bit," he said.

The department now has a number of large trucks, air packs and a brush truck, which Courser acquired for the department when another fire department was looking for someone to buy it.

He wrote such a compelling letter, the other agency gave the town the truck for $1, which they covered, even paying for the transportation to come get it.

Courser plays down this accomplishment. "We really lucked out," he said.

Being involved in the beginning was exciting, he said. "I guess I just like helping people. It was an interesting thing knowing how to approach a burning building."

Courser has seen countless fires in his time with the department.

He recalled one at a farm on Stage Road where the fire burned through the telephone wire, forcing the daughter to drive to a neighbor's to call the fire department. "We didn't save much, it was really bad."

The department has not dealt with pulling a person from a burning building, Courser said, knocking on the wooden table as he spoke. But saving someone's house is very rewarding, he added.

"If you put a fire out that hadn't spread too much, you think, 'Gosh, we did an awful good job,'" Courser said. "It's a good feeling, not to brag. I always try to say thank you to my boys, the men."

The team has been great to work with, Courser said. "I'm 72 years old and one of the best feelings you can have is to see three or four of the younger guys come right out and help."

LaFlamme planned a recent party for Courser's 50-year anniversary. He knew a party in Courser's honor would have to be a secret. "Wayne is so humble that if he had known about it, he would have tried to stop people from giving him the credit."

So LaFlamme printed up a single invitation to his wedding, changing the date to that of the party, and sent it to Courser, whose wife secretly wrapped up her husband's uniform shirt as a "wedding present."

Courser said he was "very, very surprised. It brought tears to my eyes."

Roughly 150 firefighters and friends turned out for the event, many offering stories and praise for Courser.

"To think that this many people want to honor Wayne is important," LaFlamme said. "As volunteer firemen, you don't do it for the recognition, but with everything Wayne's done, all the firemen wanted to do something for him."

Assistant Fire Chief Malcolm Sumner called Courser's service "legendary," comparing him to Paul Bunyan.

Capt. Louis Sumner called him "an anchor and a friend."

"It's leaders like you that make me proud to be a firefighter," Readsboro firefighter Bill Wheeler said.

Most of the firefighters who spoke said Courser was the reason they joined. They remembered how he came to their homes to introduce himself and personally invite them in when they were new to the area or isolated, pulling them into the department and the community.

LaFlamme recalled he had taken up Courser's offer as a way to get out of the house, but stayed for a different reason. "It has been Wayne's humble, friendly, helpful, supportive way of being chief that's the reason I'm still involved."

For Courser, this kind of thing serves two purposes: To reach out and get to know people and "I like to kind of pick the guys a little bit."

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