VIDEO: After 35 years, 8 years with the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department, Chief Garry Spain is set to retire.
“It takes a different breed of individual, as we’ve all heard, to run into a building when everyone else is running out,” said Spain.
Chief Spain’s career began with the Raleigh Fire Department in 1988 after he met his father-in-law who was retired from the department.
“All I heard from my father-in-law was what a great career it was for him,” said Spain. During his time in Raleigh, Spain climbed the ladder of command, reaching the Assistant Fire Chief’s floor.
“I left the city as it was growing, the department was growing and I was fortunate enough to be Assistant Fire Chief,” said Spain.
In 2015, Spain got the call to head the department in North Myrtle Beach, an opportunity he knew was right.