Brandon Twp.- A fire more than 20 years ago in Helen Clemetsen’s Belle Ann Elementary classroom underscored the importance of fire prevention.
At Monday’s school board meeting, Clemetsen remembered that fire and honored Assistant Fire Chief David Borst with a community service award for his efforts as the leader of the fire prevention program in the schools as Borst prepares to retire after more than 36 years of service to the township.
isting employees.
‘We wish Dave well in his future endeavors and he had definitely earned his retirement,? Kwapis said. ‘We look forward to him coming back to visit. His fire prevention program was a big influence on me. The program has been a priority and will continue to be for this fire department.?’You have influenced so many students and staff,? said a grateful Clemetsen as she presented the award. ‘You planted a seed and nurtured it as it grew. We thank you.?
That fire, in 1986, occurred over a Thanksgiving break and was caused by a leak from the roof that trickled down, shorted wires and caught a cardboard play structure against an outlet on fire. It melted chairs in the room and caused students to miss a few days of school as the damage was cleaned up. It devastated Clemetsen, but made her a true supporter of Borst’s work in teaching children about fires.
In his long career, it is that work in the fire prevention program that Borst is most proud of.
‘I enjoyed most the rush of helping the community and knowing I could help,? he said.
Borst became a paid on-call firefighter with the Brandon Fire Department on May 1, 1973, a year after coming to Ortonville to assist his wife Kerry’s father in his business. The house the couple moved into overlooked the fire station.
‘I saw them coming and going and decided to apply,? said Borst. ‘I loved it. The rest is history.?
The first fire call Borst went on was an assist to Groveland Township, a house fire on Perryville Road. He recalls he and another firefighter suffered burns on their hands because they didn’t have gloves. His next major fire was the Yolande Hotel, which burned down Dec. 22, 1974.
Borst was hired as a full-time firefighter on Jan. 27, 1975, making him the longest-serving full-time township employee. He moved up in the ranks as a sergeant and lieutenant, then captain, before becoming assistant fire chief to Fire Chief Bob McArthur in the summer of 1997.
‘It is quite a rush going to any emergency,? he said. ‘You think immediately of what your plan of attack is. There is time for fear, not so much for yourself, but for the people you will help and you’re always thinking of your fellow firefighters? safety.?
The changes in protective gear are the biggest improvement he has seen over the years. When he began, the turnout gear was rubber hip waders, a hard rubber raincoat, rubber gloves and a helmet. Now, there are leather gloves and bunker pants that fit over their boots.
Borst was asked to begin the fire prevention program in the schools in 1975 by then Fire Chief Jim Frantz. He became extremely interested and started with third grade classes, eventually expanding to include more grades and four visits per year to the schools, teaching stop, drop and roll, low crawling, fire escape and the importance of not playing with matches.
He has enjoyed working with the kids and also with his fellow employees.
‘I will miss the friends I’ve made,? said Borst. ‘We may not always like what we’re doing, but we’re always family.?
He is also grateful for the support he has received from his family, which besides Kerry, his wife of 39 years, includes children Sara, Nick and Beth.
His job meant a lot of missed family events, ruined clothes and delays because of emergencies. He remembers the Christmas that he had to respond to three fires in a row. He told his family to just open the gifts without him, but his youngest daughter, Beth, insisted they wait until Daddy got home.
May 29 is Borst’s last day on the job and he will leave having given his all to his life’s work.
‘I will have the gratification of knowing I’ve done the best I could for the community,? said Borst, who plans to spend his time with his family, including seven grandchildren, and more time at his cabin north of Hale. ‘I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s time to move on.?