Captain Rounds Out 34 Year Career Today With Three Sons

By: Master Firefighter Tim Burns

If you happen to see E702 (Takoma Park) today, don’t be alarmed at its resemblance to a sport-family truckster, as it will be staffed by three generations of a proud firefighting family. 

Captain Mike Grierson rounds out a 34 year career with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue by staffing Engine 702 with his three sons (Michael 30C, Ricky 2C, and Chuckie- soon to be 22c) who all work for the department. Accompanying them will be their Grandfather, MFF Bernie Collins (MCFRS, ret.)

Mike was hired on December 31, 1978 at Station 1 and was promoted to Technician by the Silver Spring Fire Department shortly before firefighters became employees of county government in 1988. His position was then reclassified to the rank of Master Firefighter and he worked in a number of stations in that capacity, including Stations 19 and 16. Additionally during this time frame, Captain Grierson took on responsibilities in the scheduling office, ensuring proper staffing of career personnel throughout the county.

In the late 1980s he was promoted to Sergeant and moved to the Fire Code Enforcement Office. During that time Mike became a paramedic through Montgomery County and was eventually promoted to Captain, a promotion that earned him a transfer to Station 7 in Chevy Chase. 

Since Station 7 was the center of the Hazardous Materials team at the time, Mike added that skill to his considerable repertoire. When the department expanded the HazMat team to Fire Station 28 in Gaithersburg in 2001, Mike was chosen to assist in that endeavor and moved up-county for a few years.

Most Recently, Mike has been serving the department as the Safety Officer on C-Shift. 

As we do with all of our retirees, the MCFRS wishes Captain Grierson success and happiness in retirement and we thank him for his legacy of excellence that is evident in the three sons who now take his place in our department.