News Photo by Michael Gonzalez Herb Gamage at his home on Wednesday shows off his two awards that he received for 40 years as a firefighter and his work rescuing horses trapped in a barn fire.

ALPENA — After nearly 50 years of working as a volunteer firefighter for the Green Township Fire Department, Herb Gamage retired this year.

“My family has always had the idea that they should help neighbors,” Gamage said. “And this is a way of helping my neighbors.”

It all started in 1973, when Gamage was the township clerk for Green Township. He recalled someone said the area needed a fire department and, coincidentally, a retired police captain from downstate had just moved to Green Township.

Gamage, a group of other volunteers, and the retired captain came together and organized a fire department.

Gamage was the last founding member that continued to work for the Green Township Fire Department until his retirement. He wanted to make it to the 50-year milestone because his Emergency Medical Technician license was still active and he wanted to help others.

Gamage could not continue with firefighting, he said, because his wife needs care. He explained that she has advanced Parkinson’s disease and it’s hard for her to get around.

Gamage knew he had to make sure his wife got the extra care she needed — and the hours dedicated to firefighting can be long — so he made the decision to retire.

“I’ve met a lot of people in the township that I would have never met before,” Gamage said. “Granted, probably not under the best of circumstances, because they’ve called 911, but most of them appreciate having you there.”

When the fire department in Green Township first started, Gamage said, all it did was put out fires. It wasn’t until later that members of the department trained to get their EMT licenses.

Gamage said the process of obtaining the license has gotten more and more intense over the years. More time is needed for training and studying, Gamage said, and firefighting has gotten progressively safer.

“You know, when we first started, we got a coat, a hat, and a pair of boots. And that was basically it,” Gamage said. “We didn’t have the air packs.”

Gamage received two awards during his time at the department: one for 40 years as a firefighter and another for rescuing five horses that got trapped in a burning barn.

After nearly 50 years of working as a volunteer firefighter, Gamage said he’s learned that volunteer work in any fashion is an important aspect in life.

“I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned — and I’ve kind of passed it on to my kids — is that if you want to feel really good about yourself, help people,” Gamage said.