When Walter Wieland joined the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department in 1972 as a firefighter, he didn't envision just how long his time with the department would span.
“In 1972 I had lived in Ridgefield for five years and was looking for some way to get involved in the community,“ Wieland said. “I knew some friends who were firefighters and they suggested I join the fire department as a firefighter." “It sounded like an interesting way to get involved with the community," he added. In October, at the department’s annual dinner, Wieland, 85, was honored for 50 years of service in the department. In 1994, he joined the Fire Police Division of the department, became fire police lieutenant in 1998 and in 2002 was promoted to fire police captain, a position he still holds today.