Deputy fire chief retires, sees bright city future
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Deputy Chief Tom Balin is retiring after 36 years in the McKeesport Fire Department.
"I'm at the end of my career, but I hate to leave because there are new things on the horizon, not just for the fire department but for the whole city," Mr. Balin said.
During his career, the firefighter was active with public service, including bringing fire education programs to schools.
"The fire department reflects the city, when you see a turnaround, you see the city turn around. You see young people with fresh ideas and new equipment. Everything feels as though it's becoming rejuvenated,'' he said of the department, as well as the city's future.
He said it's important the public never underestimate the danger posed by fire.
"I've been injured a few times and disabled temporarily," Mr. Balin said. "The first time was when a wall fell on me. I was just a rookie and only on the job for a year."
The accident happened at the Little Theater Fire on Jenny Lind Street in 1972.
Mr. Balin, who was one of three firefighters injured by a collapsing wall, said he was lucky.
"Unfortunately, there were two other men with me and they both had to leave their jobs because of their injuries,'' he said.
More recently, he fell fighting a fire and sustained a concussion that caused him to miss several months work.
"I'm very fortunate that I was able to complete a career,'' he said.
Other memorable events from his time include a rash of fires in old abandoned homes on Park Street a few years ago. It turned out a group of teenagers was setting the blazes.
"We had a terrible time," he recalled. "They really kept us hopping."
His wife Patty Balin said she is glad her husband is able to retire from a dangerous job.
"You never know when you're going to get that phone call," she said.
The Balins, who have two adult children, are looking forward to taking more day trips to local casinos now.
The fire department is much smaller now than it was when he was hired, Mr. Balin recalled.
When he was hired in 1971, there were 76 firefighters in the department; when he leaves, there will only be 24. Mr. Balin is not being replaced.
Still, he said the department is better trained and more capable than ever.
First Published August 9, 2007 6:39 am
