NORWICH – The Chenango County Fire Police Association held its annual banquet Saturday evening at Fred’s Inn.

Many of the volunteers who make up the association’s 65 members have dedicated a lifetime of experience to their communities. The members who now serve a supporting role in the fire police were once the emergency personnel who drove their local emergency volunteer services. All members are or were volunteer firefighters; many also wear a number of other hats, including EMS.

Many of those in attendance Saturday made a life ime commitment to their local communities, including Mike Stensland, who has 58 years of volunteer service with the local fire agencies; Dan Fairchild, serving 14 years with the South New Berlin fire police; Terry Myers, 32 years with the New Berlin Fire Department and the last six years with the fire police.

Norwich Town Supervisor Dave Law attended the annual banquet. Law, who has nearly 46 years of volunteer service with local fire agencies himself, said the fire police are vital to several local events.