Northville Twp.’s ‘Singing Fire Captain’ delivers swan song after 25 years
Northville Township Fire Captain Chris Madzik is retiring following a stellar 25-year career.
Not all the fires Capt. Chris Madzik put out throughout his 28-year career with the Northville Township Fire Department involved flames.
On one particular run to Northville High School several years ago, he assisted a student who “was having a bad day, a really rough day” behavior wise, Capt. Madzik explained.
He transported him in an ambulance to the hospital, where he learned the teen had ADHD.
“I talked to him the whole way there,” said Capt. Madzik, who is a father of two, and immediately made a connection with this stressed child.
Relatable experiences
“When we got to the hospital, I grabbed the upset mom and I just said, ‘You know, I have ADHD, too. And I’m okay. Your son is going to be okay. He’s going to be fine. He just had a bad day. Everything is going to be OK.’ Hopefully, I
made their bad day a little better.”
Capt. Madzik’s caring ways are part of the legacy he will leave when he retires from fire duty Oct. 16 after nearly three decades of helping Northville Township residents.
It’s one of the reasons, at 53, why he is ready to pass the baton after being one of the department’s first full-time firefighters. He cares about the next generation of Northville Township firefighter/paramedics.
“It’s time to clear some space for other guys to grow and develop and advance their career,” he said. “I mean, I’ve been here more than 25 years. It’s just time to let other people have their shot.”
History lesson
The thought of becoming a firefighter/paramedic didn’t cross Capt. Madzik’s mind until he was 25, fresh off a radio job in Washington, D.C. He returned to his hometown of Livonia and a friend of his sister’s was a firefighter.
“I liked that every day was different,” he said.
He joined Northville Township in November 1995 because they were offering free training for a three-year commitment to the Department as a paid on-call firefighter. He became a full-time firefighter in April 1998. In 2002, he was
promoted to Sergeant, then to a Lieutenant in 2003. He became a Captain in 2017.
What kept him at the Township?
“At that time, there was the building boom going on,” he said. “Northville Township was one of the leaders in population growth, so I knew that the Fire Department was going to have to change and grow, and I wanted to be there when it did.”
A song in his heart
His career has opened doors he never anticipated. About 12 years ago, he rediscovered his love for singing. Growing up, he performed in choirs and musicals, but as an adult he put it aside until his wife, Julie, urged him to get back in the spotlight.
Currently, he sings tenor in Livingston County Choirs and in concerts for the Expressions Music Academy in Novi. He’s frequently asked to sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at first-responder nights for the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons.
“Singing at the Tiger game, I loved it,” he said. “That was the first time I’ve ever sung in a venue that big where I had to worry about that much (sound) delay. I very much loved that experience.”
Classroom bound
Capt. Madzik’s about to perform for a new crowd. He plans on working for Howell Public Schools as a paraprofessional who assists impaired children.
“I have a skill set that can be valuable for kids with physical and emotional impairments,” he said. “In this job, I’ve always done very well helping kids needing specialized care, so I think that’ll transfer into the classroom.”
He will balance his new career with fun, too. He will spend more time with his wife, Julie, their 19-year-old daughter, Josie, and their 13-year-old son, Reed.
Golf, music, hiking
He’ll fit in more golf, more music and hiking, too.
He’ll also be thinking of his friends at the fire station.
“I’m going to miss the guys,” he said. “I’m going to miss the day-to-day stuff. These are guys that I’ve been with well, some of them for most of my adult life.”
The feeling is mutual, said Northville Township Fire Chief Brent Siegel. “With 28 years of service, Capt. Madzik has a lot of institutional and operational knowledge,” he said.
“He has contributed to the forward progression of theDepartment and his presence will be missed.”
Thank you to Northville Township Communications Manager Rene Wisely for contributing this article to SocialHouseNews.com.
