Mayor Kazmark and the Borough Council honored Joe A. Macones on his retirement as Assistant Chief of the West Paterson Volunteer Fire Department (WPFD) and swore in the Department’s new Assistant Chief Anthony Ficarra.

Macones served as an Assistant Chief for 18 of his 26 years of service. He joined the WPFD at age 17. He was the Department's Training Officer, holding various drills and lectures to help every member to be the best firefighter he or she can be.

“There’s a lot that we do that’s behind the scenes,” said Fire Chief Paul Salomone, Jr. “Joe was an integral part of that. His leadership has been second to none.”

Joe and his family have moved out of Woodland Park, to Oakland.

Ficarra also joined the Department at age 17 and has worked his way up the ranks at Fire Company 1, most recently serving as Captain.

Macones' shoes are big ones to fill, Ficarra noted, but, he said, "The only thing I can do is work to build upon the foundation he leaves behind."