PERU – After more than four decades on the job, former Chief Bob Dolloff is saying good-bye to Peru’s volunteer fire department.

Members of the department presented Dolloff with an embroidered jacket Tuesday to commemorate his retirement. It was also a way to say “thank you” for all the countless hours of hard work he spent keeping the town safe.

Dolloff served as Peru’s fire chief in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and at one point served in the department with both his son and grandson.

“I couldn’t even guess how many calls I went on,” said Dolloff, but he added that the department received between 25 and 30 per year. That puts the total at around 1,200 blazes he has helped put out since beginning his firefighting career in April of 1963.

The gathering at the Rockemeka Grange gave Dolloff and some of his longtime associates a chance to reminisce.

“Back then we just wore heavy raincoats with a wool lining,” Dolloff explained. And then there were the old firetrucks.

“We had a call once, and the brakes went out on the truck,” said current Fire Chief Bill Hussey. “We rolled right by the fire and couldn’t stop.” Luckily for local residents, the town recently bought a new firetruck, and much of the old equipment is now held by Peru’s historical society.

But equipment is not the only thing that has improved over the years. Dolloff said the mutual aid agreements with surrounding communities have been a big help. “If we call, they send men and equipment; if they call, we send men and equipment. We don’t worry about money changing hands.”

Now that he has put an end to the late night calls, the new retiree must have plans for some of that free time, right? “No, no. I just figured it was time to give someone else a turn.”

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