Jefferson Township fire chief prepares to step away after 54 years
When Brady Mermon began as the chief of the Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department in 1970, it was a small operation with an outdated truck.
As Mermon prepares to retire at the end of the year, the growth the Washington County fire department has seen under his watch is evident. Brad Mermon, his son and a lieutenant at the department, said his father’s legacy was summed up well at the department’s recent Christmas party.
“Somebody stated that it was, ‘The house that Brady built,” Brad Mermon said.
Brad Mermon described how his father worked to expand the fire department’s footprint, fundraising efforts and modernizing its equipment.
“He just instilled a lot of hard work and dedication into everyone that was there,” Brad said.
Though there was just one truck at the start, Brady Mermon said as he exits there are currently three pumper trucks and two tanker trucks.
Brady has been fiercely dedicated not only to the fire department, but to public service as a whole. Almost as long as he has served as fire chief, he has also been a Jefferson Township supervisor, an elected position.
He is currently in his final term.
“I got one year to go,” Brady said.
Paulette Mermon, Brady’s wife, says he was very clear about his obligations to the fire department when they married the same year he became chief.
“He told me, ‘No matter what, if there is a call at the fire department, no matter what we’re doing, I’m gone,'” Paulette said.
Brady’s commitment to serving his community rubbed off on Brad and his older brother, Brady Mermon Jr., who is captain of the fire department.
Brad recalls his brother would spend a lot of time with their father at the fire hall for training and meetings in high school.
“I knew before that time that I wanted to be a police officer. I just thought that doing the fire department and police would be a cool thing to do, to kind of follow in my dad’s footsteps,” Brad said.
Brady Sr. will be succeeded as chief by Bobby Puskarich.
“(Puskarich) is a great guy. He has been a great friend for as long as I can remember. It is being left in good hands, of course,” Brad said.
Though he will retire as chief at the end of year, Brady says he will continue to respond to calls and always reflect fondly on his days as chief.
“I loved it,” Brady said.