The Centralia Fire Department has said good bye to a long time member of the department while swearing in a new lieutenant to replace him.
Lieutenant Cary Altadonna retired effective March 20th after serving the City of Centralia for 26 years. He was in charge of the department’s driver and aerial operations training. Fire Chief John Lynch says the department wishes him well in retirement.
Altadonna will be replaced by Blaine Hyde who entered the fire service with the Patoka Fire Department in January 2002 where his father Blake serves as fire chief. Blaine began his career with the Centralia Fire Department in February 2007 and now has 15 years of service.
Lynch says Blaine is an asset to the fire department and they are lucky to be able to tap into his talents. Lynch says Blaine is always seeking out ways to improve the department and is one of the first to step up and get a job done. Lynch is looking forward to seeing Hyde grow as an officer in the Centralia Fire Department. Blaine is married to Erica and they have two sons Hunter and Peyton.
