News Flash

Mayor

Posted on: June 15, 2021

Fire Chief Mark Johnson to Retire After More Than 30 Years of Service

Culminating 36 years of service to the City of Poughkeepsie, Fire Chief Mark Johnson will retire at the beginning of next year.

Johnson first served the city as a police officer before transferring to the Fire Department in 1991. As a police officer, Johnson worked closely with the Fire Department and was a crime scene technician familiar with fire procedures and gravitated to that work.

He rose the ranks from firefighter to lieutenant to captain before being promoted to fire chief in 2010.

“Mark Johnson has been an exemplary fire chief and a consummate professional,” said Mayor Rob Rolison. “For decades, he has helped to keep this city safe, responding to all sorts of emergencies and always being there when people needed help.”

Johnson oversees a 63-member staff that protects approximately 30,000 people in an area of just under 5 square miles.  The department operates out of three fire stations and responds to almost 5,000 calls per year. 

 Reflecting on his career and several of the more challenging fires his department had to contend with, Johnson said, “You always remember the ones with loss of life.”  

The foremost memory is the loss of fellow firefighter Timothy Gunther on May 4, 2015.

 Timothy Gunther was among the firefighters at the scene of a Church Street fire and later died of cardiac-related injuries sustained from the fire’s heavy smoke.

“That was the hardest day of my 30 years in the Fire Department,” Johnson said, “Speaking to the family and then later at the funeral, it was an extremely emotional aftermath.”

The other incidents that come to memory were the Duso Chemical fire in August 2001 when a hazardous material site burned for hours causing neighborhood evacuations, and the Taylor Avenue and Academy Street fires where many lives were lost.

However, there were many lives saved over the years as well from lifesaving EMS actions, babies born, and a woman rescued from a building collapse after four hours of responders carefully digging her from the rubble. These outcomes are what keep firefighters coming to work every day knowing that more times than not, they make a difference, the chief noted.

Johnson said he is grateful to the department members who put their lives on the line and have protected the city so well for so long.

Johnson said he is proud of the many changes made under his watch, with the department becoming “more professional and modernized.”

Mayor Rolison added, “That is what people should remember. Mark Johnson has had a distinguished career. He has truly led by example. On behalf of the city, I thank him for his service and wish him the best in retirement.”

 

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Mayor

Grand Avenue for website

City Sets Meeting on S. Grand Ave. Project

Posted on: September 26, 2023
PK4Keeps Vertical This One really

City Sets Meeting on Draft Zoning Code

Posted on: September 20, 2023
Kaal Rock Website this one really

City Holds Meeting on Kaal Rock Park Plan

Posted on: September 6, 2023
Poughkeepsie seal

City Secures Grant for Fire Equipment

Posted on: August 15, 2023
fireworks

City Sets July 4th Fireworks Event

Posted on: June 13, 2023
Malcolm X photo website this one

City Renovates Malcolm X Park

Posted on: June 2, 2023

Grievance Day set for May 23

Posted on: May 19, 2023
Website this one

Main Street Gets Spruce Up Project

Posted on: April 21, 2023
Poughkeepsie seal

City Announces Youth Grant Awards

Posted on: April 11, 2023
Poughkeepsie seal

City Sets Preliminary Paving Schedule

Posted on: March 20, 2023
Poughkeepsie seal

City releases 2023 CDBG Grant Application

Posted on: February 14, 2023
Poughkeepsie seal

City Approves Updates to LWRP

Posted on: January 23, 2023
Poughkeepsie seal

Public Input Sought on LWRP Draft

Posted on: December 15, 2022
Poughkeepsie seal

Nelson Selects Transition Team

Posted on: December 7, 2022
Vinnie Parise this one

Parise Named Deputy Fire Chief

Posted on: December 6, 2022

Transfer Station Closed Due to Fire

Posted on: November 28, 2022
Celebreation of Lights Photo for the Web

Celebration of Lights Delights Crowd

Posted on: November 10, 2022
Youth Director Web Photo

City Names First Youth Services Director

Posted on: October 31, 2022

Chief Franco Offers Safety Caution Tips

Posted on: October 11, 2022
9-11 2022 web

City Holds 9/11 Memorial Service

Posted on: September 9, 2022
PK4Keeps Vertical This One really

Fourth Open House Set for 'PK4Keeps'

Posted on: August 11, 2022
L. Julee Molina Photo website this one

Bilingual Outreach Person Hired

Posted on: August 4, 2022
City of Poughkeepsie housing rainbow photo

City Releases Housing Needs Assessment

Posted on: February 28, 2022