GREENFIELD — A 23-year firefighter and current battalion chief with the Greenfield Fire Department will retire at the end of the month as a colleague steps up to take his place.
Battalion Chief John Woods first joined the department in January 2000, when he was hired as a career firefighter. He served as a volunteer firefighter for about a year and a half prior to starting his career.
Woods has served as battalion chief for C shift for the past 15 years.
The Greenfield Board of Works approved Woods’ retirement Tuesday as well as the promotion of Captain Scott Hoagland to fill his role.
After the promotion, Hoagland’s wife, Amanda, came forward to pin his new badge onto the lapel of his black dress uniform.
Greenfield’s fire chief, Jason Horning, praised both men for their commendable service to the department.
Horning said Hoagland has been an exemplary member of the fire territory since he was hired on as a career firefighter in July 2007 after serving as a volunteer firefighter for about 18 months.
“Greenfield Fire Department is blessed with many exceptional people who have a great desire to serve our city, and Scott is one of them,” Horning said. “I remember when he came on I had a gut instinct he was one of those people who was going to work hard and excel at his career, and he proved me right.”
Hoagland was promoted to captain at Station 21 in 2016 and will officially move into his new role February 3.
Horning said he’s a quick learner who picks up things easily and has no doubt he’ll excel in his new role.
“Scott understands that as he increases in rank, so does his responsibilities to serve the firefighters who work under his command, to help them to develop to be the best that they can be as well,” said the fire chief.
Horning also had great things to say about Woods.
“John has most definitely been an asset for the Greenfield Fire Department as he truly has a servant’s heart,” he said.
“He’s always had a strong desire to serve the citizens of Greenfield and to make Greenfield the best it can be. He’s always been a champion of promoting great customer service to our citizens, which extends well beyond answering emergency calls.”
Horning said Woods is the type of person willing to go the extra mile.
“John’s always been very organized with a keen sense of detail in his work, and due to his attributes he was likely overwhelmed at times with extra tasks, but he’s never complained. He knew it was for the good of our people and the betterment of the department,” the chief said.
“It seems a little strange that I remember when he was hired and now he’s retiring, at least for a little bit,” said Horning, hinting that Woods would likely return to the department in a different capacity at a later date.
