Burton Fire Captain retires after 60 years of service

BURTON, SC. (WTOC) - Burton Fire District mechanic Captain Ralph Neiderhiser celebrated his retirement Sunday after 60 years of service.

Burton Fire said Captain Neiderhiser celebrated his retirement with family, friends, and coworkers.

Ralph began his service over 60 years ago as a volunteer firefighter for his home town in Pennsylvania, until he was eventually hired as a mechanic for Hilton Head Fire and Rescue and retired after 20 years.

He stayed in the fire service as a fire chief for the Point South Volunteer Fire Department before he was hired as a mechanic for the Burton Fire District back in 2005.

In 2013 Ralph was selected as the Fire Officer of the Year.

Burton Fire said Ralph was once described as such a talented mechanic “he could figure out how to weld two pieces of wood together if they needed to be.”

Three of Ralph’s grandsons followed him into the fire service and are fire officers in South Carolina fire departments.

Congratulations Captain Ralph Neiderhiser!