This year, the Minoa Fire Department is proud to honor Past Chief Charlie “Chuck” Mullane. A dedicated member of our department since 1988, Chuck’s journey in the fire service began long before he joined Minoa. In 1973, at just 14 years old, he became a Junior Firefighter with the East Syracuse Fire Department, transitioning to a full-fledged Firefighter in 1977. He served with East Syracuse until 1985 before joining Minoa in July 1988.

Chuck was an active member until life required him to take a step back, but his commitment never wavered. In 2002, he earned Life Membership. As they say, “once a Firefighter, always a Firefighter.” True to form, Chuck returned to East Syracuse from 2014 to 2015 to mentor his son, Marc, before rejoining Minoa as an active member in 2022-2023.

Over the years, Chuck has served our community in many capacities. He completed countless fire service courses, participated on numerous committees, and held leadership positions, including 2nd Fire Lieutenant (1991-1992), 1st Assistant Chief (C4) (1993-1994), and, notably, as the 16th Fire Chief (C1) from 1996 to 1999. His career spans an incredible 52 years of service between East Syracuse and Minoa, with 37 of those years dedicated to Minoa.

As Fire Chief, Chuck made lasting contributions that shaped the future of our department. Drawing from his experience in East Syracuse, he brought people together—bridging gaps between groups like the Yardbirds and the Black Sheep. He also played a key role in the acquisition of Engine 13 and Engine 24, both of which served us well during his tenure.

Chuck was a forward-thinker when it came to safety and equipment. He modernized our department with advanced turnout coats and bunker gear, ensuring we had the best tools available at the time. Many may not realize that when Chuck became Chief, Minoa didn’t yet have dedicated Chief vehicles. He negotiated with the Village of Minoa to replace a worn-out C1 Suburban with a brand-new Jeep Cherokee and worked with the Town of Manlius to secure a retired police car for the C2 vehicle. His efforts helped relieve the burden on our department, which had been covering vehicle costs independently.

More recently, Chuck served on the committee that outfitted our members with apparel, collaborating closely with vendors to design and provide gear that reflects the pride and professionalism of Minoa Fire Department.

“Chuck, there are countless contributions you’ve made to the fire service that we may never know about. Tonight, we take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate your dedication, leadership, and the lasting impact you’ve had. Please accept this award as a token of our appreciation. Your legacy inspires us to honor the badge and share your knowledge with the next generation of Minoa Yardbirds.”

Congratulations, Chief Mullane, and thank you for everything you’ve done for the fire service and our community.

                                                         — Deputy Chief Trevor Van Auken