PARADISE, Utah — Troy Fredrickson, fire chief of the Paradise Fire Department, is retiring after serving the fire department for 40 years.

Fredrickson will retire in January. The department held an open house last week to thank Fredrickson for his many years of service.

Fredrickson grew up in Paradise and started helping in the fire department as a teenager.

“I’ve lived in Paradise and Avon since 1966,” Fredrickson said. “Lived here my whole life. I Joined the department in 1984 at 18.”

“I was just a helper to start off, didn’t know anything,” Fredrickson said. “Then I eventually got to where I was able to help everybody and then moved into the firefighter. I don’t remember the years, never did worry about it, but then I became a captain in the fire department and then moved into assistant chief and then eventually into chief.”

Fredrickson said he didn’t anticipate he would work in the fire department for so long when he started. It was simply a hobby in the beginning. He said it was fun, and he enjoyed being able to help people, so he stayed.

Fredrickson said his favorite part of working for the fire department is the people he gets to work with.

“The people here in the department, lot of good people,” Fredrickson said. “A unique bunch of individuals that’s willing to do what they do for the people they know and the people they don’t.”

Fredrickson said that while he is retiring from the fire department, he will still be working for the city.

“I still work for the county, so I’m not quitting my day job yet,” Fredrickson said. “So I’m just stepping down. It’s time for new management, new ideas, new things to take over the department. I’ll just sit back watching, see where they go. I’m excited for them, to see what they’re going to do and yeah, probably take a few more vacations than I did.”

The Paradise Fire and Rescue Facebook page announced Fredrickson’s upcoming retirement in a Facebook post last month.

“Thank you, Chief Fredrickson, for your dedication, your sacrifice, and your example. You have made a difference in our lives and in our community. You have been an inspiration to us all,” read part of the post.

Fredrickson expressed how rewarding being a firefighter has been and how he has loved serving Paradise.

“To the people of Paradise, I would say if you ever thought that you would like to be a part of it, this is a great way to help give back to the community, to give back to the people,” Fredrickson said. “There’s no better rewarding thing to do than to be able to help somebody on their worst day.

“For the people that’s willing to step up and do it, it takes a lot of commitment. From not only the people who’s willing to join, but their families. A lot of times, the families get put on the back burner in the event that the pager goes off for whatever reason. Maybe in the middle of Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas presents or birthday parties, and their families let them go and they’re willing to come and that’s a great deal.”