Simpsonville fire engineer retires after 21 years of service

A longtime member of the Simpsonville Fire Department has hung up his gear after more than two decades on the job.

Engineer Jason Mode officially retired the morning of Aug. 16, closing out a career with the department that began in January 2005. The department announced the retirement in a social media post that same afternoon.

Mode spent the majority of his 21 years as the engineer assigned to the department’s Heavy Rescue unit, a specialized apparatus that responds to some of the most technical and demanding calls a fire department handles. Heavy rescue work can include vehicle extrications, structural collapses, confined space incidents and other situations where firefighters need specialized tools and training to reach people in danger.

In its announcement, the department credited Mode with bringing significant rescue knowledge and hands-on experience to the organization and described him as a major asset to the department throughout his tenure. Department officials thanked him for his service and dedication to both the department and the Simpsonville community, and wished him well in retirement.

An engineer is responsible for operating and maintaining a fire apparatus, including driving the vehicle to the scene and managing water flow and pump pressure once crews are working. On a heavy rescue unit, the role also involves keeping specialized rescue equipment ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

Mode’s departure marks the end of one of the longer runs of continuous service on the department’s current roster.