CANFIELD — The Cardinal Joint Fire District (CJFD) Board meeting opened Monday with a special presentation for retiring Capt. Troy Kolar, who has served the district from 2007 to 2024.

“Capt. Kolar will have the distinction of being our first full-time retiree,” said CJFD Chief Don Hutchison.

Over the years, Kolar has been on a lot of memorable runs and has played a part in saving lives. He also developed a sort-of reputation for being a wildlife handler. Hutchison highlighted a lot of the special moments in Kolar’s career by presenting a series of photos of calls he responded to — both serious and a few more light-hearted calls for service.

Kolar rescued his share of wildlife including an owl, a family of ducklings and even saved a lawn mower that ended up in a ditch. The most memorable was the call about a snake refusing to leave a backyard on Aug. 22, 2019.

“When I showed up, a terrified lady was afraid to leave her porch because of a long brown snake,” Kolar said. “I reached down and picked it up. It was wiggling, but only because it was made of rubber.”

He said the fake snake looked very real, but it was definitely a fake. After the call, Kolar received a lot of Facebook comments on his bravery in handling the situation.

Kolar’s last day was Tuesday. He said the plans right now are for him and his wife Alissa to head to Florida.

Kolar was presented with a plaque for his years of service.

In other business, Hutchison reported on the new ambulances that are on order.

“Capt. Rob Tieche and myself traveled to Missouri and met the president of Osage, the ambulance manufacturer,” he said.

“The district presently has two 2025 Ford ambulances on order, each costing $367,539.”

That price will include several extra features, including the cot and some special lighting.

“It will have a blue tinted light above the patient,” Hutchison told the board. “It has been found to have a calming effect.”

Another feature is a hardened steel bumper.

“The first year we ran ambulances, we struck a deer,” he said. “After that incident, we decided to protect all our newer ambulances.”

The two new ones are due the first week of May 2025. When they go into service, it will leave a decision to be made on what to do with the two older ambulances.

“We can keep one or both as backups for when the new ambulances have to go in for servicing,” Hutchison said. “Right now we are just kicking that idea around.”

Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse
Cardinal Joint Fire District Board President Rich Russo, far left, prepares to give retiring Capt. Troy Kolar a plaque, but not until Chief Don Hutchison goes through a series of prints that highlight the career of Kolar (right).