By Eileen M. Adams,Staff Writer

MEXICO – Longtime Fire Chief Gary Wentzell was chosen from a field of three nominees as the George Downes Memorial Firefighter of the Year.

The honor, presented to him earlier this month at the department’s annual meeting, is the second one bestowed on him in 14 years. He was the first recipient when the award was started in 1991.

Wentzell was pleased to be recognized for his work.

“It’s pretty neat,” he said on Thursday. “It’s too bad everybody couldn’t get recognized. Everyone is this department is just as deserving.”

Wentzell, a member of the department for more than 25 years, has served as its chief since 1990. He’s a volunteer fire chief who owns and operates Wentzell’s Auto Body.

One of the department’s three full-time firefighters, Paul Cayer, nominated Wentzell for the award.

“He’s an excellent chief who knows what he’s doing and knows the fire scene,” said Cayer.

It was Wentzell who searched through the Internet and among his many contacts for two firetrucks for the department at costs far lower than would ordinarily be paid, said Cayer.

In 2003, he located a 1995 pumper in Alabama for $80,000, about a third of the usual cost for such a truck, he said. He also was responsible for locating a 1975 ladder truck to replace the department’s 1953 model at a cost of $30,000 and was one of the firefighters responsible for driving it from Pennsylvania back to Mexico.

Wentzell said he tries to find deals for the department so he can help keep the budget down.

“We’re a small town and we don’t have a lot of money,” he said.

He also just recently helped to start up a junior firefighter group.

Wentzell, a 1966 graduate of Stephens High School in Rumford, began as a volunteer with the Rumford Fire Department in 1967. He later moved to Mexico, where he joined the Mexico Fire Department.

“He’s a very knowledgeable chief, and a volunteer chief. That in itself says something about his dedication to the town,” said Town Manager John Madigan.