Episode 21: Chief Thomas Mills - Maglite HERO SERIES - PART 1

How do you get people to volunteer to risk their own lives to save others?  Meet Chief Thomas Mills our Maglite Firefighter Hero of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department in Chesapeake Beach Maryland.

Transcript:

Welcome to the MAGTAC Hero Series with your host Lou Desmond. Join Lou as he talks with honored hero Chief Thomas Mills of the North Beach, Maine Volunteer Fire Department about his job, his career, and the heroic story behind the reason for this special honor.

Lou Desmond:

I had the great pleasure to be in a beautiful place called Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. One of the prettiest little coastal cities you'll ever want to see. And I was honored to be there to honor the gentleman who is joining us here on the podcast. And that is Chief Thomas Mills of the North beach Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Mills, thank you for being here.

Chief Thomas Mills:

Thank you for having me.

Lou Desmond:

I got to tell you, it was one of the nicest places I've ever been. I travel all over the country for Maglite giving out these firefighter hero, law enforcement hero, civilian hero awards that we do. And it was just a thrill to be there. Your city is a wonderful place, but the thing that shocked me is the fact that your fire department serving that region is an all volunteer fire department. Now when we think of volunteer fire departments, we think, oh well that went out with the civil war. That's the last time we had those, people running down the street with buckets of water in their hands. That was the volunteer fire department in people's minds. But in your town, that's what it is. Can you explain why that is, how that is and how people serve, take your time.

Chief Thomas Mills:

Oh absolutely. So Calvert County in a whole, which is the County that we sit in. We're in a Northern end of Calvert County. We have been all volunteer in the County since the mid 20s I believe it was. I think 1926 is when the fire department was formed. And ever since then we've been all volunteer. It's a strong community. Everybody enjoys helping each other and the whole county in general, the volunteer service is very strong here. So we have a lot of pride and it saves our taxpayers quite a bit of money.

Lou Desmond:

I for many years lived in Southern California and in many of the cities in Southern California, their two highest costs are their police department and their fire department and there are cities like Rancho Cucamonga or city of Ontario in inland Southern California where it seems like there's a firehouse every other block. And the cost of maintaining those things is enormous. Now I have no problem paying for firefighters and police. I think you guys do incredible work. You risk your lives, you deserve to be well paid yet your operation, these are all people volunteering their time like the guy next to you, John Tippett. How do you get people to do this for no pay?

Chief Thomas Mills:

Well here in Calvert County and in the state of Maryland itself, we have what's called a length of appreciation award. We call it LOSAP. So after 25 years of active service, which you have to meet a certain criteria for that, it's not very hard to do, it's broken down into four to six different categories. And if you get enough points in each category, you're awarded the points for that year. And once you accumulate 25 years and you reach the age of 52 you get a stipend every month. I think Calvert County right now is up over $650. Most of the counties around us are either just below us or just below the 600 mark. Also, too here in Calvert County, we offer a free college tuition to any of the people that join that are interested in going to college. We have a property tax program here in the County. If you're an active member and you meet your LOSAP for the year, the County will pay up to $2,500 of your property tax.

Lou Desmond:

Well all that's great, but I just got to tell you, your County is getting a better deal than any County or city I know of in the entire state of California where I used to live because the firefighters, they're are all making a hundred grand a year, normal time and then doing overtime and some of them are making, almost close to $300,000 a year. It's just kind of crazy. But here's what I want to point out. I was there in your wonderful town. I met a lot of great people and I just want to point out one story. There's a guy who works as a correctional officer doing overnights and that's got to be a difficult, gut wrenching, physically demanding, mentally demanding job. And then on his off days he's volunteering as a volunteer firefighter. Who is that guy?

Chief Thomas Mills:

His name was Jack [Sulewski]. That was the gentleman you were talking to.

Lou Desmond:

Yeah, I got to tell you, I was so impressed with him. So impressed with the young people that are part of your program. So impressed with the older gentlemen who are retired and are part of your program. It's just amazing. And it's a hearken back to small town America to service minded America to people who wanted to serve their communities and not take, and it was just so refreshing to see and talk to your folks and I think you and they just do an amazing thing.

Chief Thomas Mills:

Well thank you very much. Believe me, I appreciate them too. They make my job a whole lot less difficult.

Producer:

Join Lou next time to hear Chief Thomas Mills heroic story told by the man himself on the next episode of the MAGTAC Hero Series.