Photo by Jim Tatum

Melfi says he will retire in November.

Come November, Summerville Fire Chief Marc Melfi will no longer have to jump when the alarm bells ring and the trucks roar out of the station.

Melfi, who started with the Summerville Fire Department in 1982 and rose through the ranks to become its Chief in 2006, will retire from the department effective Nov. 18.

“It’s been a great run – it’s just that now seems like a good time to do it,” Melfi said of his decision. “I’ve been honored to help and serve the public in any way I can. The town has been very good to me. It’s been great.”

Melfi said he wanted to retire on Nov. 18 because that’s the 29th anniversary of his joining the department full time. He also wanted to give ample notice so that Summerville Town Council could conduct a search for a new fire chief. While he obviously would not be part of that search, he did say he would be available to help the new chief transition in to the job.

Melfi, a Summerville native and third generation firefighter, has actually been in the fire service for 33 years, starting his career as a volunteer firefighter at age 18 and going full time four years later, on Nov. 18, 1982. Over the years he saw the department and the town grow. He was able to take advantage of a lot of education and training opportunities over the years and bring that knowledge and training back to the department. He helped launch such successful endeavors as the department’s fire safety education program.

He worked his way through the ranks and in May 2006, he realized his life’s dream: He became Chief of the Summerville Fire Department.

“I always knew I was going into the fire service – as a third generation of a family of firefighters it was pretty much a given,” he said. “I volunteered on my 18th birthday and Chief Waring hired me full time when I was 22, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve had a lot of fun and this department has been a great place to work.”

That Melfi is proud of the department and pleased with its accomplishments is obvious. He will, if prodded, admit that he has made contributions to the department over the years, but insists that any achievement of the department’s has been because of the work of many and any achievement of his merely a reflection of the department’s esprit de corps.

“The people who work for the Summerville Fire Department are great,” he said. “They are the best. In any department, it is the firefighters, the staff, the people who work there who make the chief shine. I know this and always try make sure they know it, and that they get the credit, because in this department, everything is truly a team effort. We’re all in it together.”

At age 51, Melfi has enjoyed a long and distinguished career but still has plenty of years ahead to pursue other interests, whatever they may be. In fact, he did not get into the specifics of what he might do after he leaves the department other than enjoy more time with family, but did say that he is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life.

“I haven’t really decided yet,” he said. “But my son’s getting ready to start college, so it will be nice to be able to get away and spend more time visiting him.”

Melfi also pointed out that he deeply loves Summerville and has always been and will continue to be actively involved in the community.

“It’s not like I’m just going away,” he said. “I’m still young, in good health, and I live right down the street. I’ve been involved in the community for many years and will continue to stay involved and to serve the community wherever and however I can.”

“Summerville is the best,” he added. “I’ve been all over this country, I’ve visited a lot of places and no matter where I go, I can’t wait to come back home to Summerville.”

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