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Dennis Self was a fire fighter for over three decades, spending the last few as the Fire Chief. He retired Feb. 28.
For most fire fighters, a typical day on the job consists of beginning their 24-hour shift by checking the equipment and making sure everything is in perfect working order. Being a fire fighter himself, the Madill Fire Chief Dennis Self has most likely been running through a similar routine for almost two decades.
However, when the sun rises on the day of Monday, March 2, Self will not be rising by the sound of his alarm clock to begin his day at the fire station. He will have the opportunity to go fishing, spend time with his family, or do absolutely nothing – whatever he chooses.
Friday, February 28, 2020 was Self’s last day as the Madill Fire Chief because he retired. Self said he hit the age of 65, and realized time was fleeting, so he decided it was time to retire.
“God doesn’t guarantee you anytime on this earth,” Self said. “So, I’m going to take time to enjoy each day.”
Self has been a fire fighter for more than three decades. He began as a volunteer in 1987 and was in that capacity for 15 and a half years. He then switched to a full-time fire fighter, becoming Fire Chief in 2016. He served all 33 years at the Madill fire station.
Before becoming a fire fighter, Self worked at Uniroyal right out of high school, from 1973 to 1994.
Self said people always tend to downplay volunteers, but he cannot stress just how important volunteer fire fighters are to a department.
“The volunteers are crucial; they’re the ones that put out the fires, the full time (fire fighters) drive the trucks,” Self said.
Self has plenty of family to enjoy spending time with during his retirement. He has been married for 46 years, with three sons, and ten grandchildren. He gleefully announced he has a great-grandchild on the way.
Self said serving Madill as a fire fighter was a no-brainer. He was raised in Madill, and both of his brothers were fire fighters; it just made sense to him.
He said he has an anonymous quote hanging in his office that got him through the sometimes-grueling shifts as a fire fighter.
“Unless you have lived this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate who I am or what a firefighter truly means,” anonymous.
Self said he has truly enjoyed serving Madill as a fire fighter and as Fire Chief. He considers himself blessed. He lightheartedly said he believes his wife is the one who kept him safe and able t eventually retire.
“Every time I left the house, she would pray for my safe return. I believe her prayers worked,” he said as he finished his final shift as a fire fighter, and hung up his bunker gear for good.