Dennis Kirlin always knew that an office job wasn’t for him.
Growing up, the Wilmington Fire Department Battalion Chief watched his father and uncle fight fires in the city. His grandfather was also a Wilmington fireman, though died when Kirlin was a tot.
Each day, Kirlin said, was a new adventure for the men. While the job was often challenging and could be dangerous, “it wasn’t mundane, it wasn’t repetitious.”
“In a lot of professions, you can’t wait to get to the weekend,” Kirlin said. “But they were glad to go to work every day.”
Though Kirlin can’t point to an exact moment he knew he wanted to be a firefighter, he believes it was his father and uncle’s passion that drove him to join the department nearly five decades ago.
As his service to the city comes to an end, he’s “got no regrets.”
Kirlin has been out on medical leave since April after his vehicle was hit on E. 4th and N. Walnut streets while responding to a call. The department announced his medical retirement last month, but because of sick and vacation time, he will officially retire Oct. 22.