By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — When a fire siren wails, there’s a good chance John Hall or his fire police comrades will be on scene, directing traffic to enhance public and first responder safety.

On Sept. 24 at the Hyatt in Dewey Beach, Mr. Hall was honored as the Sussex County Fire Policeman of the Year at the annual Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association Fire Police Conference dinner.

“Anytime when your peers vote you in, it’s an honor in my opinion,” said Mr. Hall.

A life member of Millsboro Fire Company Station 83, Mr. Hall has held numerous roles with the fire company as well as the fire police. He currently is Station 83’s vice president and has served on its board 19 years.

“John is a very dedicated member. He puts in a lot of time,” said Ron O’Neal, Millsboro Fire Company president. “He does a very good job for us, absolutely.”

Mr. Hall served as the president of the Delaware State Fire Police Association in 2013-14. In September of 2015, he was installed into the DVFA Hall of Fame as past president of the State Fire Police Association.

He has been honored several times statewide for fire police dedication.

Additionally, Mr. Hall was instrumental in Delaware’s “Move Over” law, which requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, warning signs or flares.

Among the provisions in the “Move Over’ law is motorists must proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way by making a lane change, if possible, away from the stationary vehicle and/or reduce vehicle speed to at least 20 miles per hour below than the posted speed limit.

Mr. Hall said he moved to pursue a strong Move Over law after his good friend Ken Tull, a fire policeman for Seaford, was seriously injured when struck by a vehicle while directing traffic at an accident scene north of Seaford on Oct. 30, 2021. Mr. Tull underwent extensive rehabilitation and recovered.

“Kenny is a very good friend of mine. He is one of the reasons,” said Mr. Hall.

Mr. Hall also serves as a fire police trainer. He recently offered the fire police perspective to students in driver’s ed classes at Indian River High School.

The upcoming holiday season is a busy time for fire police, he says.

“When it comes Christmas time, two weeks in December we’re never home. We’re in some other town helping them with Christmas parades,” Mr. Hall said. “They help us. We help them. We help one another.”

Mr. Hall, 72, retired after 20 years with the Delaware Army National Guard. He worked for 29 years for a gas company and remains a casual seasonal employee for Sussex County.