After 51 Years, Woonsocket, SD, Firefighter Hangs up Gear

Dec. 26—WOONSOCKET, S.D. — Fifty-one years, hundreds of fires, countless stories — and one man who somehow managed to be everywhere, every time.

On Dec. 16, Doug Farris officially retired, ending a remarkable 51-year run with the Woonsocket Volunteer Fire Department. His tenure is longer than most of the current firefighters have been alive, and the department believes it may be a record.

"I've been on way longer than most of the guys on now have been alive," Farris said, reflecting on a career that spanned more than half a century.

Throughout that time, he rarely missed a call and became a living archive for the department, carrying stories, traditions, and lessons across generations.

Farris' journey to the firehouse began shortly after his marriage 50 years ago, when a friend knocked on his door and asked if he wanted to join the department. That invitation, combined with the camaraderie and sense of brotherhood it promised, drew him in.

But an earlier event likely lit the first spark: in 1969, his family business, Local Lumber and Supply, burned to the ground. The old wooden structure, built with spaces at its base to dry lumber, caught fire quickly and ferociously.

"Once it went through the roof, it was just like on a wood stove," Farris recalled. "It was getting air from the bottom and then exhausting chimney effect out the top, causing it to burn incredibly fast and hot."

He spent more than 24 hours helping clean up, an experience he says may have planted the seed for his interest in firefighting.

Farris attributes his longevity to the bonds formed within the department and his sense of duty to his neighbors.

"Camaraderie is what gets you to join and then keep you there," he said.

While he never received a financial paycheck, he insists he was paid in friendships, heartfelt thank-yous, and the satisfaction of helping people in need.

"There's nothing better than the appreciation you get from a homeowner after an emergency," he said.

In a small town, firefighting is intensely personal. That familiarity creates accountability, Farris said. If volunteers don't step up, the community risks having no fire department at all.

"It's pretty rare to go to a fire where you aren't at least somewhat familiar with the person involved," Farris noted.

Farris' dedication extended beyond responding to emergencies. He earned his Firefighter I certification decades ago, a rigorous process of classroom work, live burns, and practical exercises. While the department is now fully Firefighter I qualified, Farris acknowledges that tactics and technology have changed since his training.

He also served as the department's first assistant for roughly 30 years, working under five different chiefs and gaining invaluable leadership experience. Firefighting, he says, requires genuine passion.

"You have to want it, and you have to want to be the best firefighter you can be," he said.

Farris has witnessed dramatic changes in emergency response. Before 911, Woonsocket relied on a "party line" phone system, where an incoming emergency call rang 24 phones across town. Whoever picked up first listened carefully for the location, then alerted other firefighters and rushed to the scene.

He remembers one particularly memorable call while at his laundry business. The phone rang, and a man's voice barked, "I got a fire at the trees. Hurry," then hung up. With no address and no way to call back, the firefighters relied entirely on personal familiarity. Farris recognized the voice as a longtime neighbor, Paul, and directed the crew accordingly. When they arrived, Paul greeted them with a mix of relief and amusement: "Where you been?" Farris laughed, explaining that the only reason they arrived at all was because they knew him by voice.

When Farris joined, the department had only one two-way radio in a single truck. Communication on the scene relied heavily on shouting and hand signals. Today, modern 911 systems and radio technology make responses safer and more coordinated.

Every department has its inside jokes, and Woonsocket is no different. Chief Brandon Goergen said that Farris has dubbed almost every member "rainbow" at some point — a nickname for showing up late to a call — after the storm.

Farris himself is known as "Marvel," a nickname dating back to high school shop class. During a small engines assignment, he completed his engine so quickly that his teacher handed him a full box of extra parts as a challenge. Farris built the engine flawlessly, earning the exclamation: "Farris, you're a marvel!" The name stuck, passing into his firefighting career as a badge of both skill and good humor.

Farris emphasizes that firefighting isn't just adrenaline. Volunteers respond to fires, car accidents, rescues, and incidents involving fatalities. He has faced tragedy firsthand, including fires in Wessington Springs and Artesian this year that claimed lives.

"It's not for everyone," he said. "Some people join and realize it's more than just running into flames."

Goergen, who has served 17 years with Woonsocket, recalls the energy Farris brought to every call. Even as he aged, Farris sometimes showed up in coat and helmet without bunker pants while running the pumps.

"We joke that those pants will be brand new for the next guy," Goergen said with a laugh.

Farris' retirement was understated. He told the crew he was resigning, but that it simply meant he would no longer be coming to every fire. The department, now fully staffed with 30 members, has adapted over the years to include farm kids and people from surrounding areas to ensure adequate manpower.

"Doug has the unanimous respect of every member, from the newest applicant to the veterans that may never catch his record," Goergen said. "I'm truly sad to see him go, but I know he won't be a stranger. He's just done chasing smoke."

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