Fire Captain Retires After 32 Years With the Department

After 32 years in the , Capt. James Phelan is hanging up the hose.

Phelan, who has been captain for the past 18 years, was honored at the city council meeting Monday night for his service to the department and to the city.

Lakewood Fire Chief Scott Gilman recalled one of the first calls he went on with Phelan in 1982.

It was a house fire on Webb Road.

“He and I crawled through a burning living room, and we found a lady in the bedroom and we brought her out,” Gilman said. “We did CPR on her and she survived." 

“He’s done a lot of good things in this community.”

City council agreed.

“It’s always impressive to someone who’s served the community for this many years,” said Council Vice President Brian Powers. “I think the whole city joins me in saying ‘thanks you so much for your service.’”

Nearly a dozen firefighters attended the meeting Monday night to support their captain.

“I couldn’t have done it without theses fine men and women,” Phelan said. “They all make me look good."