Over the last few months, the Oxford Fire Department lost a combined 102 years of experience.
Three longtime paid-on-call firefighters Jim Craig, John Kamm, and Mike Ryckman have all retired from the department leaving behind a legacy of dedication, professionalism and volunteerism.
‘It always leaves a big gap when you lose people with that much experience,? said Fire Chief Jack LeRoy. ‘They were looked up to as senior members of the department. The newer people would look up to them for guidance. They did a very good job of leading and helping mold people.?
‘They’re all going to be sadly missed.?
Jim Craig
Craig, 64, joined the department in 1971 at the suggestion of his friend Art Baldwin, who was assistant chief at the time.
‘It was a service group to join like the VFW,? he said. ‘Just a group of good guys.?
Craig committed 35 years of his life to the department, doing everything from maintaining the trucks to serving as a training officer molding new recruits.
The challenge of learning to work with different personalities was one of his favorite aspects of the job.
‘Each individual is different and you have to work with everybody,? Craig said. ‘You have to be flexible.?
Over the years Craig rose through the department’s ranks becoming lieutenant in 1978, second assistant chief in 1981 and first assistant chief in 1983. He served as temporary chief in 1985-86 and again in 1993-94.
Certainly no one can question Craig’s devotion to Oxford.
When half the firefighters quit in 1981 during a political dispute between the township and village over the department’s future, Craig stayed behind and practically lived at the fire hall with then-Chief Dale Spiker until enough recruits could be found.
‘I just felt I had a duty to serve the public,? he said ‘I didn’t want to leave people unprotected.?
Retired since Oct. 1, Craig said he will ‘miss the excitement every time you get a call.?
‘You never knew what you had (to deal with) until you got there,? he said.
Whether the call came in at night, on a holiday or when he had plans, Craig said, ‘I always went. My family was very understanding.?
Retired from General Motors since 1997 after working as a tool and metal model maker for 34 years, Craig plans to spend time with his family, traveling and restoring old tractors.
John Kamm
Growing up with two firemen and the chief of police living just west of his family’s home on Park St., motivated Kamm, 64, to join the department in 1963.
‘I am sure that at the young age of 21, the excitement was the (motivation),? he said. ‘In a few years, it was civic duty.?
Born and raised here, Kamm graduated Oxford High School in 1960. His family has lived here since 1916.
Kamm, who served as a sergeant from 1981-91, has seen, done and learned much in his four decades on the department.
‘The best part was having victims say thank you,? he said. ‘The most difficult part was seeing the distraught victims? pain.?
His most touching moment on the department was seven years ago when he was part of the squad that saved a 6-month-old baby.
‘The baby was not breathing and blue,? Kamm said. ‘We got there and got the baby breathing before it left in the transporting ambulance.?
His proudest moment was seeing his son, also named John Kamm, become not only a firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician for Oxford, but also a captain.
‘I needed a bigger hat and shirt size because I was so proud,? he said.
His son served from 1987-2000.
Kamm’s funniest moment was when he was racing to the scene of a call in his ‘hot rod truck? with a 12-foot steel row boat in the back, restrained only by a clothes line rope.
‘The traffic light changed to yellow and I down shifted to make the light (at the intersection of Washington and Burdick streets,? he explained.
With that, the boat popped out of the truck and slid down the street, stopping right under the traffic light.
Kamm’s wife and the Lake Orion Fire Chief, both of whom were working at Patterson’s Prescription Pharmacy at the time, saw what happened and took action. ‘They pulled the boat over into a parking space and put money in the parking meter until I returned from the call,? he said.
Retired 11 years from General Motors Truck, where he worked as a quality inspector, Kamm said his main goal now ‘is to enjoy life? since leaving the department at the end of October.
As for the future of the department, Kamm said there are ‘plenty of good and young people to handle the jobs.?
Mike Ryckman
For Ryckman, joining the fire department was all about ‘doing what’s right.?
‘Saving property and lives ? doing the right thing for people who need help? is what motivated this 1969 Lake Orion High School graduate to devote 24? years to the department and his community.
Battling structure fires is what Ryckman said he will miss most about the job.
‘Some people think you’re crazy or nuts,? he said, ‘but there’s something about it that gets in your blood. It’s exciting, it’s a challenge. . . Once it gets into your blood, it stays there.?
Firefighting must be in Ryckman’s blood as his uncle, Cecil Ryckman, served as the Lake Orion Fire Chief for 30 years.
The Oxford Fire Dept. ‘always had good teamwork? in Ryckman’s opinion.
‘We’d go into burning houses together and always get out safely together,? he said.
‘Mike was one of our best hands-on firefighters for years,? according to LeRoy, who said Ryckman was particularly valuable when it came to working the ‘interior? of burning buildings. ‘He was a very aggressive firefighter, which is what you need in a situation like that.?
In order to become a paid-on-call firefighter, Ryckman said a person must have the ‘heart to do it? because in the end, that’s what makes all those interrupted dinners and lost sleep ‘worth it.?
Unfortunately, Ryckman’s job in the demolition business requires him to spend most his time outside the community during the week, leading him to miss a lot of time and training on the department. This prompted his decision to retire. ‘I miss it when I’m at home,? said Ryckman, who retired at the end of August. ‘I’ve still got a radio and I listen to the guys go out when I’m home on the weekends. I miss it. I really do.?