Alpena Fire Department welcomes 2 new firefighters
ALPENA, Mich. – The City of Alpena welcomed two new people to help protect the community Wednesday.
The Alpena Fire Department welcomed Matt Olson and Abby smith to the team.
Fire Chief Bill Forbush, several Alpena firefighters and their family members were in attendance.
Family members pinned the fire department badges onto the new fire fighters.
Forbush said family is the key support system to the job.
“Firefighters really have a need for a support system, said Forbusj. “With the things that they see and they do the weird schedules the holidays, the kid’s hockey games and things that you just miss, working 24 hour shifts we really need buy–in from the family as well to support those new firefighters. ”
New firefighter Abby Smith said all her hard work has paid off.
“I grew up in this area around Hubbard Lake as a kid,” said Smith. “So, it’s nice to serve people in the community. It’s been a lot of blood sweat and tears to get here.”
Chief Forbush said the fire department is excited to welcome Olsen and Smith as they celebrate 150 years of service in 2021.
