On Saturday, Feb. 19, a ceremony was held at the Noank Fire District meeting hall to witness the official retirement of Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Marshal David Steel and the promotion of Captain Michael Gale to be the new fire chief and deputy fire marshal.

This was witnessed by a large group of firefighters, family members and local political representatives.

Dave Steel has been a member of the Noank Fire Company for 50 years, starting first as a fire cadet, then firefighter, then later as a firefighter/EMT. He became assistant chief in charge of initiating the Noank EMS program, later becoming fire chief and deputy fire marshal for over 20 years following the retirement of Richard Latham.

Dave was also an assistant chief at the Submarine Base Fire Department until retiring from there. His father, the late Donald Steel, had served the Noank Fire Company as fire police captain and treasurer for many years.

Mike Gale also has had a strong family association with the Noank Fire Company, which includes his late father, Lieutenant Fred Gale. Mike headed up an earlier Noank Muster Team and then served as Noank’s captain and training officer before ascending to the position of chief.

Additionally, he has served as a full-time firefighter/EMS responder, and lately as fire inspector, with the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department.

Charles and Dawn Chaffee relocated recently from their family home in Noank to nearby Groton. Charlie will be staying on to continue serving as Noank’s deputy fire chief and as head fire marshal for both Noank and Groton Long Point.

The ceremony included pinning of both Dave and Mike by the treasurer, Cindy Steel; a swearing in for Mike as chief by the District Clerk, Nancy Gilmore; and the presentation to Mike of the Fire Chief’s badge by his son, Logan Brown.

Additionally, State Sen. Heather Somers presented both men with State of Connecticut pins and then read a Connecticut citation honoring Dave’s 20-plus years of service as chief, all to much applause by the audience.

Other recent district changes occurred in January. Dave, upon his retirement as fire chief, is now a member of the Noank Fire District Executive Committee, filling the vacancy left by Frank Socha, who died in September 2021 following a long illness. Dave joins Katherine Rathbun and Chairperson Michael Noel on the committee.

We wish to express our deepest thanks to all those who are continuing to serve Noank in their new and existing leadership positions in both the Fire Department and the district office.

Ed Johnson and his daughter Lacy live in Noank.