Midland Park November 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Mark McCombs to head volunteer fire department Mark McCombs Lifelong resident Mark McCombs has been elected chief of the Midland Park Volunteer Fire Department. He will succeed Chief Mark Berninger when he is sworn in on Jan. 1. Jason Crean will be the new assistant chief and Jeff Casson, captain. “I grew up in the fire department; both my father and grandfather were members, so it means a lot to me to follow in their footsteps,” said McCombs, whose younger brother, Kevin, is also a member of the department. Their father, Jim, who led the department in 1982-83, is still a member after 40 years. McCombs joined the department in 1995, quickly work- ing his way up to become a lieutenant when he was only 20 years old. He said what he has enjoyed most over those 19 years is providing a community service and the camarade- rie developed with other firefighters. Once he takes over the 45-man department, he said he’d like to continue the traditions developed over the past 100 years, but also increase training, boost membership and seek out additional grant funds, if available, to improve the facilities and upgrade equipment. McCombs acknowledged that getting new members is a constant struggle because of the huge time commitment involved, not only in attending fire school, but also in par- ticipating in department drills and other activities. He said that while membership is strong, it is below previous levels and said he would work with the other officers to see what could be done. A graduate of Midland Park High School and Ramapo College, with a master’s from Seton Hall University, the 36- year-old has been a police officer with the Franklin Lakes Police Department for the past 14 years.