Saying farewell
to the job he loves

Suzanne Laurent
Staff Writer Derry News

Suzanne Laurent Staff Photo Capt. David R. Spahn has been with the Londonderry Fire Department full time for 30 years.

LONDONDERRY | Londonderry Fire Capt. David R. Spahn marks his 30th year on the job as a full-time firefighter this April. With a heart full of memories, he recently submitted his retirement request, which will take effect on May 19.

"I couldn't believe it even as I was writing it," Spahn said of the letter. "I'll definitely miss all the relationships I have with everyone here."

Spahn grew up in North Londonderry and recalled hopping in a pickup truck with his friends when he was a young teen to help put out brush fires. He attended the town's Central Elementary School, now Matthew Thornton, and went to Memorial High School in Manchester.

"There were only the North and South Fire Stations when I was a kid," he said. The Central Fire Station on Mammoth Road is where Spahn has his office.

After high school, Spahn joined the U.S. Navy and after discharge three-and-a-half years later, he worked for Goodyear. He was a call firefighter for eight years until he was hired full time by the department.

Spahn recalled his first day on the job, April 19, 1976. "It was hot, about 75 degrees," he said. "Around 4 p.m., we were taking a break from training and we received a mutual aid call to Lowell ( Mass.) A large store, like a Bradlee's, was on fire, and it had spread to all the stores in the mall. You could see the smoke from Windham."

Spahn and his wife, Diane, have two grown sons. "Over the years, I missed a lot of holidays and birthdays," he said. "It's time for me to step down and let someone younger with fresh ideas take over." He has been in his position as captain for 16 years.

In 1984 Spahn began the first Juvenile Fire Starter Program in southern New Hampshire. "I handled a lot of cases that came out of the Derry District Court," he said. The program is for children and youths who have a history of starting fires.

Spahn has also been a substitute teacher at Londonderry Middle School for 14 years and said he will continue to substitute after retirement. "I really enjoy that age group," he said.

Spahn said his most memorable day on the job was when he delivered a baby. "You see the videos and learn how to do this, but when it happens, it's just unbelievable," he said.

His worst day was when he had to pull four charred bodies from a car accident. "A car carrying a family crashed on the highway at 10 a.m. and caught on fire," he said. "By the time everyone was through doing the accident scene investigation, it was 4 in the afternoon. It was a hot August day in 1996."

Spahn said he's responded to every type of medical problem in town. "Most time, people will know me when I arrive," he said. "I feel so helpless when I know I can't save their family member. It's never easy."

This story appeared in the Derry News 2/24/2006

Mike Willinsky- Derry Fire Department