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Longtime Michigan firefighter hangs up his helmet

Associated Press - October 24, 2009 4:04 AM ET

SPRING ARBOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - After 46 years of dousing flames, a Michigan firefighter is hanging up his helmet.

Seventy-year-old John Rule retired this year from the fire department in Jackson County's Spring Arbor Township.

He joined in 1963 and was a volunteer until firefighters began getting paid after a millage passed in 2000. But Rule tells the Jackson Citizen Patriot the money didn't make much of a difference because he liked helping his community.

Rule answered about 750 fire calls in his time but says he's leaving for health reasons. He says he also wants to make room for his two sons, who are firefighters.

Chief Tim McEldowney says he wants Rule to keep his pager handy - just in case.

A tribute to Rule was scheduled for Saturday.

Information from: Jackson Citizen Patriot, http://www.mlive.com/jackson

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