Community is top priority for Chelsea fire chief

Chelsea Fire Chief Wayne Shirley first worked with the Chelsea fire department when he was a teenager.

“I kind of grew up going on calls with my dad even before I was old enough to be a member,” Shirley said. “I would be riding with him to go help folks. I just have always enjoyed it and never thought of doing anything else.”

Shirley never had a doubt that he wanted to go into fire service, and he has been in the field for 34 years. Part of his career decision came from his family’s involvement in Chelsea’s volunteer fire department, and part came from a desire to help the community.

“I love helping folks, and this is the way I feel, like I was blessed with the opportunity to serve in my community helping folks,” he said. “It’s great when you really love what you’re doing because it’s not a job then.”

He expects the same “servant’s heart” in his fire and rescue staff as well. Whenever someone comes to work at the fire department, Shirley said he asks why they want to be in Chelsea. 

“Whether it’s volunteers or paid staff, I always ask them why they want to be here because I’m looking for people who have a true servant’s heart,” he said. “If you don’t like getting out and going to public activities, this isn’t the place for you.”

As a lifelong Chelsea resident, Shirley saw the city grow from 1,000 residents to more than 11,000. The fire department will grow along with the community, he said, and two more fire stations are on the drawing board. But no matter how large the community grows, Shirley maintains the importance of staying involved.

Keeping up with the community means residents are informed about the department’s equipment and capabilities, Shirley said, and they know what resources are available.

“We also like to be the place where if you don’t know who else to call, call us and we’ll either help you or find someone who can, because public service is what it’s about,” Shirley said.

The fire department connects with the community through events and fundraisers such as the MDA boot drive, Firefighter for a Day contests and the Fire at the Foothills BBQ and Chili Cook-Off. They also visit elementary and middle schools to teach students about fire safety and work with Chelsea High School to put on Every 15 Minutes, a program that shows students the impact of distracted or drunk driving. 

“It’s important to us because I believe our primary role is public service, not just public safety,” Shirley said. “You can’t do that if you’re not staying plugged into the community; you don’t know what the community’s needs are.”