They say the average worker in this country changes jobs over eight times in the course of his or her working lifetime. Mike Strobridge was too busy to change jobs. This year, he will leave his first and only job after a 53-year career as a firefighter in the Swainsboro Fire Department. In 1971, Strobridge started that journey as an entry-level fireman. At that time, there were six full-time firefighters and 22 volunteers. The fire station was located at the back of the old City Hall on the Boneyard. In those days, the old siren mounted high on the water tank that looks like a 1930’s rocket ship would wail out the call for volunteers to drop everything and head to the fire. In 1974, a new fire station was built on the parking lot at the rear of the new Courthouse. That building could house two fire engines and had sleeping accommodations for two firemen. 1984 saw the addition of the Jake Wilkerson Southside Fire Station. The staff at that time had increased to eight full-time employees. Strobridge was there through it all and remembers well, the most notorious fires of that era. “The earliest massive fire for me was the tobacco warehouse fire behind what is now the Waffle King. That fire burned down one of two side-by-side warehouses, and I still remember the incredible heat of that one. Then later, the Durden Hotel fire damaged a large section of the old Courthouse Square area downtown. It took hours to control that blaze and Fire Departments from all around came to help out.” commented Strobridge. In 2003, Mike Strobridge became “Chief Strobridge.” From that point on, he left his mark on the department. In 2011, the Swainsboro Fire Department moved into its present downtown location which is the envy of every surrounding fire department in our area. Strobridge had a plan to reduce insurance rates for homes and businesses in the city and through training, better equipment acquisition and steady improvement throughout the department, he succeeded in lowering the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) rating to its lowest rate ever and then he did it again. This meant significant savings to every property owner in Swainsboro on their insurance rates.
So, what’s ahead for Chief Strobridge? No special plans, he says. He has agreed with City Hall to hang on until a new Chief is found, (at least for a little while), but after 53 years, it’s time to change things up. When questioned about his feelings looking back on the job, his thoughts center around “people”. “I think of the people who needed help, and we were able to be there for them, the people that I learned from who helped me and the idea of just being able to serve. That was the best part of the whole experience and that’s what has kept me on the job”, stated Strobridge. Sounds like he was the right man for the job, and the job was the right one for the man. Thanks for your 53 years of service Chief Strobridge!
