Liverpool Fire Chief Steven Parnell says it’s time to start putting his family first.
Parnell, who has 30 years in the fire service, is retiring.
“For all the years I’ve been a member of the department, I’ve always put the department ahead of family and I just chose that right now it’s time to put my family ahead of the fire service.”
Parnell made the announcement on Facebook.
Parnell joined junior firefighters when he was 13 years-old and transitioned to the regular fire service when he was 19.
He spent the next 24 years fighting fires or helping with emergency situations in Queens County including 14 as chief.
Parnell says the fire at White Point’s historic main lodge in 2011, which involved 16 fire departments, stands out as the biggest one that impacted the community.
He says he’ll miss the brotherhood.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re on a fire with your own department or if there is 16 fire departments there, it’s a brotherhood. They all work together, they respect one another and treat each other like they’re family.”
A new fire chief in Liverpool will be chosen on Thursday night.