Kayla Tucker
mlive.com
(TNS)
NORTON SHORES, MI – After 33 years of protecting the community from fires, Norton Shores Fire Chief Robert Gagnon is stepping down and reflecting on all he’s done and what he’ll do next.
After years of hard work, Gagnon rose through the ranks of the department to become fire chief in 2013. With his retirement party planned for Thursday, Dec. 19, he spoke with MLive/Muskegon Chronicle about his efforts to make a difference within the community and the fire department.
“In my current position as chief, it’s being in a position I know I can make a difference and I can be a part of change not only in our community, but to our firefighters themselves,” said Gagnon, in his 11th year as chief. “Make an environment where they’re happy to be at work, they’re happy they chose this field.”
Gagnon enrolled in the Muskegon County Fire Academy in 1991, at age 22, while working full-time as the quality director for Harbor Steel & Supply Corp.
He worked part-time for the Norton Shores station until 2002, when he became full-time. Gagnon said the 9/11 terrorist attack is what helped make that decision.
“It made me really think about the current job I had,” Gagnon said. “I loved that job, but it wasn’t fulfilling enough. My heart was to serve and that’s what I decided I wanted to focus on.”
In two years, Gagnon was promoted to a lieutenant, where he started to do internal training for the department.
Three years after that, he was promoted to deputy chief, bypassing the ranks of captain and fire marshal. He oversaw the entire department’s operations and managed the staff schedule and training.
“You realize there’s a lot of people depending on you,” Gagnon said. “You do not want to fail. That made me want to continue to get more and more training in everything I could think of.”
When Gagnon first rose to management in the early 2000s, he oversaw around five people per shift. Now he oversees 35 to 40.
When he became chief in 2013, there were 13 full-time firefighters. Now, there are 27.
“I was able to double staffing in the time I have been chief,” Gagnon said.
Firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies and car crashes, but have also rescued ducks from a drain and cleaned up trees and debris after a major storm.
The Norton Shores department also responds to aircraft crashes at the Muskegon County Airport.
“We’re kind of that catch-all,” Gagnon said. “Firefighters are not really ones to say no, and we try to find out ways to work through any problem.”
Beyond the local fire department, Gagnon is the president of the Muskegon Area Fire Chiefs, serves on the Trinity Health EMS Board, is a member of the city’s first Honor Guard team and previously served on the Muskegon County Central Dispatch Coordinating Committee.
He is also the primary fire representative in the Muskegon County Emergency Management Office, where he manages calls for area fire departments during a large-scale incident. After a major storm this summer in Muskegon, Gagnon helped coordinate the clean-up response.
“He consistently demonstrates outstanding leadership, a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for community involvement in both emergency and non-emergency situations,” said Renee Gavin, emergency manager for the county.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gagnon served as the Region 6 officer, representing 13 counties including Muskegon. He helped coordinate different efforts for fire departments like getting personal protective equipment that was needed at the time.
Gagnon has also worked with the U.S. Secret Service for presidential visits, including former presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
“Being involved in all those things, it’s kind of humbling because you really realize the experience that you had to offer all of these organizations,” Gagnon said. “You realize you’re much more of an asset than you give yourself credit for.”
Gagnon, who turns 55 this month, said he’s put in as much time as he can in the fire service.
“You see people at their worst every day and it may be OK at the beginning of your career but, as time goes on, it has these cumulative effects,” Gagnon said. “Many people have struggled with things, me included.”
Next, Gagnon hopes to utilize his emergency management skills in a different industry.
“I feel good about what I’ve done and I’m ready for a new chapter,” he said.
The Norton Shores Fire Department currently has a committee reviewing applications from around the country for the next fire chief.
The community is invited to Thursday’s retirement party for the Chief Gagnon, scheduled for 6 p.m. at 640 Seminole Rd.
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