6 MARCH 2026
Thursday 12/03/2026
LOCAL FIRE WARDEN STEPS DOWN Claims he’s ‘Retiring’ - Brigade suspects he’ll still be around. In a move that shocked absolutely noone and still caused a committee meeting, Myles Boon has officially stepped down as Fire Warden and Second Officer of the Closeburn Brigade, while remaining very much in the brigade. “It’s about more time in my caravan, with the wife, dogs and nature,” Myles reportedly said, which in brigade terms can mean anything from “I need a break” to “I’ll be back next week telling you how to do it properly.” For years, Myles has been the calm in the smoke, the voice that sounds like he’s ordering fish and chips instead of coordinating trucks during a big fire. As Fire Warden, he signed permits, answered late-night calls, and politely explained to landholders that no, lighting a burn in 40 km/h winds is not “just getting it done before dinner.” As Second Officer, he stood one step behind the First Officer, which is the official position for someone who knows exactly what’s going on but is pretending they don’t enjoy being in charge.
Colleagues describe him as steady, practical, and ‘always has the ladder on hand to help’. High praise in rural firefighting circles. While stepping down from formal leadership roles, Myles isn’t disappearing. Far from it. He’s staying on as a brigade member, which means he’ll still turn up,
still lend a hand, and still quietly fix things before anyone notices they’re broken. There are rumours he may now enjoy the rare luxury of arriving at an incident without being the first one asked, “So what’s the plan?” Brigade members have responded with the traditional show of respect: mild sarcasm, firm handshakes, and someone threatening to put his photo on the station wall whether he likes it or not. We 100% promised not to place anything in the Village Pump. One long-time member summed it up best: “You don’t really step down in this job. You just change seats in the truck.” The brigade thanks Myles for his years of steady leadership, common sense, and the kind of experience you can’t download from a training package. He may not be a Fire Warden or Second Officer anymore, but let’s be honest, if something kicks off, everyone knows he’ll always be there to help. Thank you for your service, Myles. Closeburn Rural Fire Brigade