BALDWIN COUNTY, Ga. — Baldwin County Fire Chief Victor Young is retiring after 35 years of service with the Baldwin County Fire Department.
When Young joined the fire department at the age of 20 in 1989, he says he knew nothing about fires. Now, after a life dedicated to service in Baldwin County, he is stepping away.
Young told his former chief that he would stay with the department for five years - which turned into a whole career. Along the way, he moved from firefighter, to deputy chief, eventually becoming fire chief in 2019.
Even after all these years, Young says he still gets excited when he's near the action. He said fighting fires felt like he was playing a sport.
"Even though I was fighting a fire, when I would go in the house, I would say, 'This fire is not going to beat me. I am going to beat it,'" Young said.
He said he used the same approach with every job he had at the department - striving to be the best whether he was a fire fighter, chief deputy or a fire chief.
Kevin Meeks is a captain at the Baldwin County Fire Department. He says he helped the chief accomplish one of his goals in office - refurbishing a 1949 fire truck.
Meeks says the truck had been sitting in the department's garage for decades, and it took them almost a full year to get it ready for this month's Christmas parade.
"He just gave us the reins and said, 'Make it happen,'" Meeks said.
Meeks says it was an honor to help Young accomplish one of his last goals as fire chief, and it was an honor to serve alongside the chief.
"He's given me books, he's given me unexpected leave when things arise and he said, 'Hey, man, go take care of your family,'" Meeks said.