Firefighter Mike McAdams was in his late 70s and had been with the Sapello-Rociada Volunteer Fire Company for many, many years, said Chief Bill Gamel. He was a former chief of the department and his daughter formerly served as the department's EMS director.
"He was a real dedicated man in the fire department," the chief said. "I've never known him to miss a fire. That was a big part of his life."
McAdams was known for his thorough knowledge of the department, its history and all of its equipment, Gamel said. The department recently gave away an American LaFrance from the 1960s, and McAdams was the only one at the department who still knew how to use it. "He knew it like the back of his hand," Gamel said.
McAdams was also known for his great advice. When anyone new came to the station, "If you wanted to learn something you'd go to Mike. He had the patience and he knew it all," the chief said. Even as chief, Gamel said, "I would ask him what he thought and he'd always give me great advice on what to do."
McAdams had also been heavily involved in the department's preparation for ISO testing, the chief said.
McAdams attended a training meeting Tuesday evening and later responded to a call for an overturned vehicle. He was on top of the fire truck shining a spotlight on the crash site, Gamel said, and remained at the scene until 10 or 11 p.m. He died the next morning at home. "He was up cooking breakfast, and all of a sudden fell down," the chief was told.
Funeral information will be posted when it becomes available. Donations can be made in memory of Firefighter Mike McAdams care of the Sapello-Rociada VFC, P.O. Box 8, Sapello, NM 87745.
The Sapello-Rociada VFC has 28 volunteer members at two stations. They are currently building a third station and serve an urban-interface community in San Miguel County, New Mexico, where they respond to a mixture of structural and wildland firefighting calls.
