The end of December has come and gone and so has the careers of two Burbank Firefighters who have together spent over 60 years serving Burbank residents.
Firefighters gathered to say “Happy Retirement” to Brian Williamson back on December 9 in the dayroom of Station 11 at Orange Grove and Third Street. Brian became a Burbank Fireman in the early 1980’s and has served as a paramedic for 30 years, with 19 of those 30 also as an engineer. (One who drives and pumps a fire apparatus)
During his career he has always been busy. Back in 1995, he wrote the department’s Bereavement Policy and he has worked with Verdugo Fire Dispatch in developing their Emergency Medical Dispatching Program, where he wrote per-arrival instructions for dispatchers and has continued to provide education for the dispatchers. Brian became interested in GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and has supplied the department along with Verdugo Dispatch plans and interfaces that are in use today and for years to come.
Brian’s son Robert is a mechanic’s helper in the department so his love for the fire department will continue.
Several retired firefighters returned to say goodbye and good luck and as tradition has it, during the enjoyment of ice cream and cake, the tones from Verdugo Dispatch rang out wishing him well from all the fire departments that are served by Verdugo Fire Communications and all the dispatchers alike.
Thank you Brain for serving the residents of Burbank so well for the past 32 years, you will be missed, now it’s time for you to enjoy retirement and the leisure’s that you have so well deserved.
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Firefighters held a retirement get together again on December 28 for the retirement of Captain John Nare.
John was hired on January 10th 1983 the son of a Burbank Battalion Chief, the late John Nare and the nephew of Phil Nare. John became a paramedic back in 1991 and then an engineer in 1992. In 1993 John became a provisional Captain and became permanent in May of 1994. He then transferred to the Fire Prevention Bureau and became the City’s Arson Investigator, serving in that position since 2007.
John, who graduated from the class of 1974 at Burbank High School, enjoyed his years as a Fire Investigator searching for clues and finding the cause of hundreds of fires, not all caused by arson. John leaves behind a thrilling career and a nephew Daniel Nare, who is currently a Burbank Firefighter. John will be able to work on his game of golf which he loves, and now travel with his wife Nancy.
Retired firefighters came and joined plenty of guests that included other Arson Investigators, City Employees, City Attorney’s and the City Executive Staff along with friends to say farewell and happy retirement to Burbank’s lead Investigator known as “Arson 1.”
Happy Retirement John!
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