GENESEE COUNTY/Bouton retires from Genesee County Emergency Management

Jim Bouton has been involved with the volunteer fire service since 1972.

On Friday night at Ely Fish, friends, family and fellow firefighters gathered to say thank you and celebrate in Bouton’s semi retirement from Genesee County Emergency Management.

He started his volunteer fire career at the Alexander Fire Department and became chief there in 1983. In 1996, he worked with Genesee County Emergency Management as a Fire Investigator. In 2004, as a Deputy Fire Coordinator for the Center Battalion, then in 2012 he also added Training Technician to his responsibilities.

Bouton says he is planning on staying on as a County Fire Investigator, which is a paid hourly position and he says he will also stay active as an ESU volunteer in hazardous materials. Bouton will also continue to volunteer with the Town of Batavia Fire Department as Deputy Chief.

“Staying involved to a greater lesser degree,” says Bouton.

“I told Tim(Yaeger) that when I came on I wouldn’t stay past the age of 66, I’m 65 1/2, so I did as promised and its time to turn the reins over to a couple of quality folks.”

Gary Patnode, Chief of the Alabama Fire Department, who is a Deputy Fire Coordinator for the West Battalion, will take over the Training Technician spot and Dan Coffey, Chief of the Town of Batavia Fire Department, will become Deputy Fire Coordinator for the Center Battalion.

Bouton says he will work with Patnode and Coffey so there is a smooth transition.

“We do so much more today than we did seven years ago, I want to make sure the continuity is there, so will help them out on a regular basis.”

Bouton says he plans to travel more and will be going to Pennsylvania in a few weeks, and he promised his 7 grandkids a trip to Florida in February to go fishing, but Bouton plans on staying in Genesee County.

“All the fire chiefs out there present and past, thanks for your guidance, help and support, all the firefighter students over the years and my wife, for the last 15 years who had to deal with me missing family events, birthdays, leaving early, not being able to sit down to dinner because we have an emergency call. Now I will be home at night, looking forward to all that.”

Bouton says he will miss the job and his friends.

“It was a wonderful experience and would not give it up for anything.”

His advice to those just starting out in the volunteer fire service,

“You might find this opportunity might open doors you did not think would be there for a career down the road. Maybe becoming a paid firefighter, paramedic, sales of equipment, the sky is the limit, lots of jobs out there that come from doing volunteer work.”