"There was a fire in the home right next door to us," remembered Thornton, 56. "Everybody got out OK, and the operations of the fire department certainly intrigued me. From that point on, my interest grew. As long as I can remember, it was my aspiration to become a career firefighter."

Thornton realized his aspiration and then some. In the course of a 31-year career, he rose through the ranks of the 99-member Hackensack Fire Department (HFD) to the top spot, serving as chief since 2005. Thornton is now ready for his career to come to a close, having announced his retirement on March 12. In a conversation with Hackensack Chronicle, Thornton took the time to look back on a career that for him was a calling full of fond memories and no regrets.

Firefighter fundamentals

Thornton went on the job in December 1976. Although there have been significant technological improvements over the past three decades, such as the introduction of self-contained breathing apparatus, he noted that some factors in firefighting have remained constant.

"Firefighting is always going to be a manpower intensive operation," he said. "No matter how technologically advanced the job becomes, it’s still going to be the firemen who put the fire out with the teamwork effort needed to get it done."

For Thornton, effective firefighter training is critical to getting the job done.

"The training component in the Hackensack Fire Department was always strong, but over the years the level of training has become much more in-depth than when I first started," he said.

"Our members train everyday for three hours a day, and there are always new topics coming up. If you’re asking me, Hackensack has the best fire department in Bergen County."

A chief remembers a chief

Thornton came up steadily through the HFD ranks throughout his career, rising in order from firefighter, fire lieutenant, fire captain, fire battalion chief, fire deputy chief to ultimately chief, taking over from Chief Rick Yannelli in January 2005.

One firefighter stepped forward to remember Thornton’s early days in the fire department.

"Joel Thornton was a very diligent recruit, no question about it," said retired HFD Chief Anthony Aiellos in the living room of his home in the Fairmount section of Hackensack. Aiellos lives not far from where Thornton resides with wife Ruth and where he helped to raise his son Joel and daughter Jamie. "He had a great interest in everything."

"You have to be a dedicated person to want to be in the fire service," continued Aiellos. "When you go to any emergency and everybody’s running out, you’re running in. I saw Joel at fires where he led the way in. I have great admiration for Joel. I’m surprised he’s retiring."

Now, family first

When asked why he chose to retire after such a solid career, Thornton looked homeward.

"I’ve been thinking about retirement for a while," he said, noting that he had reached full-pension status after putting in more than 30 years of service with the fire department.

"I’ve been very active not only in my own community, but with the fire service throughout the county and throughout the state. We are all partners in this. But I usually start work by about 7 a.m., stay at the office until around 6 p.m., then attend meetings after work with one of the fire companies we do work with on a mutual aid basis, to give one example."

"Today, I had one of those types of meetings," Thornton continued. "I went home, saw my wife for a little bit, and then went back out the door. I didn’t get home until almost 10 p.m. If I saw my wife for 20 minutes, that would be a lot. There are too many nights like that. This is all about my family and me right now. I’m ready to spend more time with them."

Thornton is well aware that he has chosen to retire just at the moment when a serious controversy has arisen between the fire department and the city administration. The City of Hackensack announced in late February that emergency medical services would be removed from fire department control to Hackensack University Medical Center. As a result of this move, the positions of eight paid city emergency medical technicians (EMTs) that work under HFD command are scheduled to be eliminated by June or July.

Thornton stated clearly that his decision to retire was not in any way tied to the EMT controversy.

"My decision to leave is strictly for me and my family," he said. "I hope that some accord can be reached with the city and that the EMTs will retain their jobs."

A job and a life like no other

Thornton’s retirement will be effective as of June 1, with Deputy Chief Bruce Goldberg ready to step up as Acting Chief. On June 2, Thornton plans to start thinking about what to do next, including perhaps getting involved in some youth football and wresting coaching, a personal passion.

"Hopefully, I also will be able to sleep past 6 o’clock in the morning," Thornton added, smiling.

The retiring chief’s tone took on a more somber note when he remembered the five Hackensack firemen who died at the July 1, 1988 Ford fire, as well as helping out at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. But in the end, when Thornton reflected upon his years of service with the HFD, it was with far more joy than sorrow.

"Everyone knows that I’m a family man, and when I say that I also mean the family that I work with," he said.

"The fire department is my extended family. We’re a 99-member department. You know these people. You know their families. Your kids play together. What promotes everything is that camaraderie and that confidence that you have in each other. The fire service is unlike any other occupation because everyone’s action is dependent on the other’s guy action. You must be a team, and it is a team. That’s why the members are as close as they are. Your partners are going to give all to help you. It’s just a way of life."