By Mike Kessinger
The Hays Daily News
ELLIS, Kan. — The time just seemed right for Denis Vine to retire.
A volunteer firefighter in the Ellis Fire Department for 43 years, climbing the ranks to assistant fire chief then fire chief, Vine knew the moment had come when he should hang up the fire coat and helmet for good.
On Wednesday, he served in the position for the final time. It would just happen, too, that the day would be one of the two times a month when the fire department meets, and it would include a training exercise. It was one more time for Vine to be the lead instructor. It also was for training in which the 20 members of the department would do ice rescue.
“It’s cold out there,” Vine said, looking ahead to what the training would include.
After turning 65 on Dec. 28, Vine has looked forward to when he would be able to walk away from one of the things he’s enjoyed being a part of for a large portion of his life. It’s not just been about fighting fires for Vine, as it has about being able to help serve the public in the community he grew up in.
“If I’m going to live in this community and have a business in this community, I want to help the community,” Vine said. “Plus, I would get to meet people.”
Vine started as a volunteer firefighter a year after he opened his own business D&B Body Shop in 1972. He still owns the shop on the north end of Ellis, where his son, Dustin Vine, works with him. Dustin has followed Denis’ footsteps not only in the family business, but also as a firefighter. It’s been a way a life for Dustin Vine, and for the last few years, he has served as the assistant fire chief.
“It’s kind of sad, because it’s all I’ve ever grown up with,” Dustin said of not being on the department with his father, who still will work in the body shop. “But he’s still here. I can still pick his brain.”
When Vine announced to the city council he would be retiring from the fire department, he was asked by Mayor David McDaniel to work on a recommendation for a successor. Vine took the time to look over candidates with experience and knowledge of the procedures. The one who seemed to have those traits and qualities is the person who has watched and learned from him since he was a child — his son.
“It’s all I’ve ever known,” Dustin Vine said. “Even when I was a little kid, we didn’t have pagers, we just had the siren go off. So, I’d just lie awake until he came home. I wanted to make sure he was safe. You never know.”
Vine gave his recommendation to the city council. On Tuesday night at the city council meeting, the city named Dustin Vine its fire chief.
“By far, (Dustin) is the one who has the most years on the force and most training and most attendance and everything,” Denis Vine said.
In a volunteer career that has a span of more than four decades, Vine has been on more than 3,000 fire calls, Dustin Vine said. In the span Vine has covered, there have only been three fatalities.
Through the years, Vine said he always had a strong relationship with the city. He and and his son said they always received help in any way possible. It has always been a good working bond between everyone involved.
“I’m a happy dad,” Vine said of being able to see his son take over as the fire chief. “Hopefully I‘ll be helpful to him if he does have a question.”
The fire department will host a reception for Vine from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus in Ellis.
Copyright 2017 The Hays Daily News