A legacy of service: Hadley fire chief calls it a career

HADLEY — On the busiest days, around 100,000 vehicles pass through or stop in Hadley, significantly increasing the size of the town that has about 5,300 year-round residents.

Yet until 2005, when Michael Spanknebel became Hadley’s first full-time firefighter, the Hadley Fire Department depended exclusively on on-call firefighting staff, those who could respond to emergencies from their workplaces or homes.

In the 21 years since, and his 13 years as fire chief, the department has become more professional. By the end of this summer, it will return to having at least two full-time firefighters on each shift, with one shift having three firefighters, along with the restoration of a Basic Life Support ambulance for some back-up medical calls.

“Over my 27 years the department has grown by leaps and bounds,” Spanknebel says. “Being able to respond 24/7, getting up to full-time level, has been a highlight of my career.”

On Saturday, Spanknebel formally retired at a ceremony at the main public safety complex on East Street, closing out a firefighting career that began when he joined the town’s call force in 1999. Robert Flaherty, the department’s deputy fire chief, will succeed him on an interim basis.

Flaherty, who spoke at the event, said Spanknebel has been a remarkable leader, mentor and friend.

“Michael has dedicated his career to protecting the community, leading our department with integrity and ensuring the residents of Hadley are safe,” Flaherty said.

The town’s emergency management director since 2003, Spanknebel came into the fire chief position with a five-year implementation plan.

“We wanted to build a strong foundation,” he said. “We kept moving forward.”

But challenges arose, most notably in 2025 when progress was derailed by a failed Proposition 2½ tax-cap override vote that led to layoffs, as well as Deputy Chief Evan Briant’s departure to become Granby’s fire chief. The department lost more than 40 years of experience and is just now getting back to strength after voters this spring passed an override vote, Spanknebel said.

Former Select Board member Joyce Chunglo, who was on the panel when Spanknebel was hired, said he leaves a legacy of service.

“He’s professionalized the department by bringing it up to 21st-century protection and care for residents,” Chunglo said.

Beyond that, Spanknebel has been visible, whether working with the Park and Recreation Department, Senior Center, American Legion and schools, or participating in parades.

“He has done nothing but dedicate himself to our town,” Chunglo said.

Select Board member Molly Keegan said Spanknebel, who received a citation from the Select Board last week, has understood the dramatically changing needs for fire protection and fire safety.

“Mike has single-handedly, starting from scratch, built out the fire department as we know it today,” Keegan said. “It’s quite remarkable what he’s been able to accomplish.”

“When Mike started 27 years ago, it was call-force firefighters, that was the extent of the coverage for Hadley, it was all volunteer,” Keegan said.

She also credits Spanknebel with helping to guide the transition from the Amherst Fire Department ambulance to the private Action Ambulance. While Keegan said Amherst provided exceptional service, Action has been able to cut response time in half while continuing to offer excellent care.

Spanknebel said the Select Board’s decision in 2018 to part ways with Amherst’s ambulance was consequential, setting the Hadley department up to bring Advanced Life Support ambulance in-house.

“The ultimate goal will be to transition to ALS,” Spanknebel said. “There’s substantial revenues that can support the department, which is pretty standard now.”

“The region is so strained for ambulances that when our ambulance was out of service, it impacted our neighbors,” he said.

Both Chunglo and Keegan spoke at Spanknebel’s retirement ceremony on Saturday, where a citation was presented by the office of state Rep. Homar Gomez, D-Easthampton. Patrick Carnevale, the deputy director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, made a point to get to Hadley that day to bring a citation from Gov. Maura Healey, as he had to return to the Sail Boston tall ships event.

“What you’re losing is an incredible person, not a fire person, not an EM (emergency manager), just a genuinely great person,” Carnevale said.

Also speaking were Briant, Belchertown Fire Chief John Ingram and Hadley Fire Lt. Michael Mazulis, representing Hadley Local Firefighters 5486.

Police Chief Michael Mason reflected on Spanknebel being there when he lost his mother and Officer John Robitaille, and the time Spanknebel got him his most prized possession: a baseball signed by former Boston Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell after Mason was unable to execute a trade with Robitaille for that piece of memorabilia.

After initially pursuing a career as a carpenter, and starting his own construction business, Spanknebel remembers the first time he went to a fire at the First Congregational Church. His job that day was to cut a hole in the roof.

When Spanknebel first started in a full-time role, under the leadership of then-Fire Chief Jim Kicza, there was a much larger number of call force members. His responsibilities included putting together formal fire permits and plan reviews, increasing inspections of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, and starting the Student Awareness of Fire Education program for students.

“It was a lot,” Spanknebel said, observing some inspections, such as University of Massachusetts properties in Hadley, needed assistance.

In 2008, he was promoted to captain, taking on more training responsibility and additional education on incident command and fire ground operations. “When you have major incidents in town, you have more credibility,” Spanknebel said.

At that time he brought on a full-time lieutenant, Nick McKenna, now with West Springfield’s department.

“With two people, it was still all hands on deck, but we established new programs,” Spanknebel said.

The opening of the North Hadley fire station on River Drive was also important, after he initially looked at renovating the North Hadley Village Hall or building a new facility next to it.

“North station was a long process and a tough sell, but it’s been a big positive for us,” Spanknebel said.

Action AMS has been running ambulances from this location, while the department keeps a tanker truck and pumper there. This has proven convenient for both a full-time firefighter who lives in Sunderland and members of the call force. Spanknebel said having the fully operational station also reduces the cost of homeowner insurance for residents in that part of town.

At the main fire station on East Street, part of a larger public safety complex, the department has built out into attic space, created sleeping quarters and has space for all turnout gear. Grant funding has also purchased airpacks and all equipment is inspected regularly so firefighters are not exposed to cancer-causing materials. All work clothes can also be washed on-site.

“I have a great department and the call force is so dedicated,” Spanknebel said.

Spanknebel has no immediate plans in retirement, noting that he will be taking a break while repaying the generosity of his family: wife Jessica, and children Gage and Sloane. “My family has supported me, but it’s been a strain on them,” Spanknebel said.

He also offers appreciation for residents, especially after they agreed to increase their taxes. “Thank you to the townspeople for their support,” Spanknebel said.