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The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department hosted their annual election last Monday, Jan. 6, naming a new Fire Chief among several other positions.
Richard LaCourse, who was elected as the New Columbus VFD Fire Chief, has climbed up the ranks at VFD throughout the years and holds several positions within the city and county, including being the Colorado County Precinct 1 Constable.
“It’s been 35 years since I joined the fire department right out of high school in 1990 as an 18-year-old, I graduated in June 1990 and joined in Sept. 1990, I’m 53 now,” said LaCourse. “I was a lieutenant, a captain, second and first assistant chief and here I am now. I can tell you my very first structure fire. I have seen situations, terrible accidents, that have you wondering how that could have happened in the first place. I’m a third-generation firefighter. My grandfather started in the 70s or even before that and was a fire chief from 1970 to 1980. My dad was part of the CVFD too until Vietnam came up. Even my son was in it for a short time before joining the army.”
Having now reached the position of Fire Chief after a 35-year long journey at the Columbus VFD, LaCourse says he has new ideas he plans to incorporate to boost membership and ensure mental wellbeing amongst firefighters and their families.
“I have some ideas I’m kicking around,” said La-Course. “I want to try to work on the health and mental well-being of the firefighters and their families, to try and put the family back in the fire department. I am also looking for more membership and a way to boost it. We need some more young volunteers to take an interest. In today’s world the younger people are not wanting to stay here. We need to get the ones that are here tied into the community.”
Among the other positions filled were: First Assistant Fire Chief: Sidney Chollett Second Assistant Fire Chief: Josh Chollett Captains: James Chollett, Tony Stolar, Brian Berger, Anna Schultz, Brian Emmel President: Brian Emmel Secretary: Anna Schultz Treasurer: Jason Templeton Sargeant at Arms: Franklin Sosa Chaplain: Alan Kethan Mascot: Gavi Footnick
