NORWICH – With his retirement date approaching on May 17, City of Norwich Fire Department Chief Tracy Chawgo took some time to reflect on his 10 years as fire chief and 30-plus years with the department with The Evening Sun on Wednesday.

"A lot of people don't understand that the fire service, especially around these smaller communities, is more of a way of life than a job," said Chawgo. "You're kind of always on duty; everytime you hear the pager or scanner you need to know what's going on. You never really know when you're gonna get called in."

Chawgo became fire chief on April 10, 2008, and his last working day as chief will be on May 16. Before becoming a career firefighter in October 1997, Chawgo was a volunteer responder.

"I've seen a lot, learned a lot, and have a lot to learn like everybody else," said Chawgo. "Things change and it's exciting, but [I'm] nervous. It's a big change."

Chawgo said he's retiring because he has reached his goals and wants to let somebody new come in as chief, bringing in new energy and ideas. "I get tired, get beat up a little bit. It's just time, I feel like it is."

Offering advice to the next fire chief, Chawgo said he thinks it's important that the fire department continue to be active in the community events that make Norwich home.

"We love Norwich, we love being here and we like being involved in all the things that are going on," said Chawgo. "It's nice knowing who to call when there are certain individuals that are having specific troubles, I can say, 'Geez, let me put you in touch with so and so.'

"It's a well-connected community, more so than I think a lot of people understand. We work hard to make sure the people of Norwich are taken care of."

A South New Berlin native, Chawgo thanked the Norwich community for its support, not only for the 10 years he has been fire chief, but for all the years prior he was involved in the department.

While noting that there were too many people to mention them all, Chawgo expressed his gratitude to former Norwich firefighters Bob Handy and Gary Cate, as well as Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matt Beckwith and Emergency Management Officer A. Wesley Jones.

In his retirement, Chawgo said he will spend some of his free time working for the Cooperstown Medical Transport as an ambulance paramedic––the role where Chawgo believes he is at his best.

"I'm not one to sit around. I like to help people," said Chawgo. "I like to be involved when people are kind of at their worst and be able help them out of different situations, so, [I'm going to] kind of ease out of it slowly."

Chawgo will also dedicate some of his free time in retirement to a project he and his wife, Mindy, have undergone: transforming an old school bus into a motorhome. Upon its completion, Chawgo said he and Mindy hope to travel and enjoy the world in the motorhome.

"You got to have something to keep busy with, and it's a lot of fun," Chawgo said.

Although he plans to remain involved socially with the fire department, Chawgo said he's sure he will miss being fire chief.

"It will be strange not carrying this pager on my hip, not hearing that go off every single night for every single call I listen to to make sure the guys are okay," said Chawgo. "It's going to be a huge change, one that's going to take a little bit getting used to.

"I appreciate the support over the years. I've made mistakes like everybody else does and it's nice that the community supports the fire department. They've certainly supported me over 10 years as the chief, and the time before that," said Chawgo.

Pictured: City of Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo's last day will be on May 16, with his retirement effective May 17. (Grady Thompson photo)