Greenawalds Has New Fire Chief

The Greenawalds Fire Company has a new chief.

Mike Smith, 44, who joined the department as a teenager, was appointed chief last week by Greenawalds President Vinny Quinn. He succeeds Dennis Smith, who resigned.

Smith will serve until at least the end of the year, when the firefighters will elect a chief. 

Smith, who, like all the members of the department, is a volunteer, joined Greenawalds when he was 14. At the time, the three fire departments in the township had an Explorer training program, and he and a friend signed up. (That friend, John Frantz, is now 's fire marshall.)

Smith, of South Whitehall, has been a fire company captain, deputy chief and assistant chief prior to being named to the top spot. When he first joined, he said, the department handled about 60 calls a year. Now the department handles 300 to 400 calls annually. 

Over the next four months, Smith said, he plans to focus on organizational matters, such as updating operating procedures.

Smith works as a firefighter for the Allentown Fire Department.