Two Vicksburg Fire Department deputy chiefs sat beside each other at Central Station, reminiscing about their years of city service.

But after today, Mark Ettinger will report to a different job. At 47, he is retiring after 25 years with the department to focus on a remodeling company co-owned with his brother.

Rose Shaifer, a 27-year civil servant, will continue as deputy chief.

&#8220I’m going to miss it,” Ettinger said. &#8220When I wake up and realize I’m not coming in, that will be the worst part. It’s going to be hard to leave.”

Ettinger began his career in 1981 as a private. &#8220I probably was on the back of a truck for about a year,” Ettinger said. &#8220Then I transferred over to the ambulance service. I stayed there for two years before moving to rescue unit, and I did that for a year.”

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1985. Five years later, he was promoted again, this time to captain.

&#8220And I worked as captain for 12 years,” he said.

During that span, he left Central to work at Station 6 for a year before Chief Keith Rogers asked him to return. &#8220In 2002, he cornered me at Station 6 and I was appointed deputy chief.”

Ettinger described how rookie firefighters were treated and how emergency operations have changed since 1981.

&#8220If you were new, you didn’t do anything except stay beside the lieutenant,” he said. &#8220After you got a little experience, they would let you move up from the tail of the truck to side pocket. It was kind of like a promotion without a raise. But you had to be a private for two years before testing to become a lieutenant.”

He also said training has become more effective and equipment is better.

&#8220Back then, they had few air packs and they didn’t stress using them,” Ettinger said. &#8220Fire engines were pretty simple because there were hardly any electronics on them. Now, they have two computers on them. Also, everybody rides in enclosed cabs.”

Furthermore, air packs are lighter and ambulances are dispatched on fire calls.

&#8220You used to carry 90-95 pounds of equipment. And we didn’t send an ambulance on a fire years ago. Now, an ambulance is sent out with fire trucks.”

Shaifer and Ettinger talked about some of the more memorable fires they’ve fought together.

Among them was the May 2002 fire at Rouse Polymerics International Inc., on U.S. 61 South, which injured 12 people, five of whom died. Another was an April 2002 fire at Ergon Inc., on the Vicksburg harbor, which injured one. About 18 firefighters were on the scene for the refinery blaze.

&#8220That was a very scary fire,” Ettinger said. &#8220We couldn’t pump oil out of pipes because the motor was down or the electricity was out.”

Ergon workers and Vicksburg Fire Department personnel contained the blaze to a heater where it started, and the flue-gas stack inside, which it burned, was kept from falling.

Shaifer said training for firefighters will be even better, thanks to Ettinger’s work.

&#8220He was a force behind our training center near Waltersville Estates,” she said.

Shaifer said the department is looking to add an emergency driving course, a 30,000-gallon drafting pit and a pressurized railroad car for chlorine training.

Ettinger appeared hesitant to accept the praise, but said he will not be tempted to respond to emergency calls after retirement.

&#8220The only way I will respond to calls is if Chief Rogers calls me,” he said. &#8220I won’t have a pager or a scanner.”

He said his job as deputy chief has been hard and believes this is the time to give it up.

&#8220The worst part of this job is dealing with the disciplinary problems,” he said. &#8220It really wears on you. I eat a lot of Pepcid and walk the floor at night. I told my wife it’s time for me to retire.”

The department was to celebrate Ettinger’s retirement today in Kings.

&#8220It came as a shock to all of us when he said about six weeks ago that he’s retiring,” Shaifer said. &#8220A lot of us don’t want to see him go, but we understand.”