Richard Wigfield

Richard Wigfield, son of Raymond E. and Catherine J. Wigfield. Born April 20’th 1954 at Lyons Barber Hospital in Lyons, NY.

Richard graduated from Lyons High School in 1973; on October 6’th 1973 married Vicki Betts from North Rose, NY. After graduation, he worked for a building contractor and in 1974 went to work for NYSDOT where he retired after 35 years.

During his years of service, Richard has performed the following roles: Vehicle Lieutenant (all Trucks and ambulances), Captain, Assistant Chief, Fire Chief, Fire Police, Trustee, and District Commissioner.

In addition to helping the community, Richard has enjoyed woodworking, working on his dad’s farm, attending church, traveling and being with family.

In 1974, their son Dennis was born and about this time Richard had started thinking about joining the North Rose Fire Department but put that off until 1978 when his journey would begin.

Richard and Vicki are very proud of their son Dennis as he has followed his Dad and Grandpa Betts in joining the NRFD. Dennis would one day serve as a second-generation Fire Chief.

Narrative offered by Richard Wigfield:

“I have really enjoyed the 45 plus years of being a member of the North Rose Fire Department. I can thank my father-in-law James Betts for getting me interested in joining the department. I need to also say that God and my wife were a big part of my success. I can say a big THANK YOU to my wife Vicki for understanding and putting up with all the missed meals, holidays and leaving any time an emergency arose. Without the backing, understanding and support of her the job of helping the community would have been very hard.

As a member of the fire department, you are part of a larger family of brother and sister first responders consisting of the Fire, EMS and Law Enforcement. This bond of brother/sisterhood was evident during 9-11 and should always be. During 9-11, everyone came together helping and remembering everyone that lost their lives. DEPARTED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN WE SHALL ALWAYS REMEMBER.

“Being a volunteer and helping the community is a great feeling helping those in need. In years past, having volunteers wasn’t much of a problem, but now days it is getting harder and harder to get people to join. It is truly a shame because I don’t really know how the fire departments are going to continue. For years, some fire departments also had medics in the department and ran an ambulance but with more regulation they slowly disappeared along with some of the paid ambulance services. If we stop getting people to join, I’m afraid that communities will be hurting because if you have to pay people, and with the cost of equipment, there will be communities that won’t be able to afford a fire department in their towns. All we can do is hope and pray that the trend changes for the better and people start to volunteer again. People can’t ever tell when an emergency may arise.”