AMHERST — He joined the Amherst Fire Department when it made fewer than 2,000 ambulance runs a year.
In Fire Capt. Brian Sterling’s last hour as a member of the public safety department, all of Amherst’s ambulances were responding to calls, and three mutual aid ambulances had to be summoned.
The increase in medical runs is one of the biggest changes Sterling has seen in his 34 years with the department, the last 24 as captain, most of the time leading a crew at the Central Fire Station. On Monday, his last day, the engines and ambulances at the station were parked outside and the bays became a gathering spot to celebrate Sterling’s career.
“I’ve really enjoyed the camaraderie. You can’t get that anywhere else,” Sterling, 57, said. “It’s a family — that’s an apt name.”
Fire Chief Tim Nelson said Sterling improved the department, beginning the technical rescue team and being a driving force in the development of a regional technical rescue team.
“You always want to leave a place better than you found it,” Nelson said. “He did that.”
“He’s a firefighter’s firefighter; that’s the best thing you can say about him,” Nelson added.
Sterling arrived in Amherst after four years as an Air Force firefighter. He learned about the opening while serving at Barnes Air Reserve Base in Westfield.
He credited retired Fire Capt. Robert Comings, who was present at the ceremony, for taking him under his wing after arriving at the department in 1983. Sterling also thanked his wife, Linda, for her support through the years.
Nelson said Sterling taught firefighters how to protect themselves, something that is priceless.
“What he brings to us is a sense of all those dangers and managing that risk,” Nelson said. “He’s kind of watched over us. He’s our safety guy.”
Before getting into Fire Engine 1 for an escort back to his Belchertown home (a traditional ride for a senior firefighter heading into retirement), Sterling was serenaded by bagpipes, played by Westfield firefighter Steve Makos. Sterling also plays bagpipes, and has done so during the town’s Sept. 11 ceremonies.
In retirement, Sterling said he will continue to work part time as a trainer at the fire academy in Springfield, and plans to build a cabin in Vermont. Knowing this, his crew’s gift to him was a new nail gun.
Nelson said Sterling has a dry sense of humor, and it often came at Nelson’s expense.
In fact, while handing Sterling a plaque recognizing his retirement, Nelson commented on the retiree’s thick gray handlebar mustache, expressing both admiration and a hint of jealousy.
“He possesses the world’s greatest mustache, I’ve got to admit,” said Nelson, who sports a more modest version on his upper lip.
“I can’t help it if you don’t want to go there,” Sterling deadpanned.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
