In every community, there are quiet heroes whose everyday actions leave a lasting impact — this is the story of one of them.
When most people picture a firefighter, they imagine someone in full gear racing toward flames. But in a small Michigan town between the 1980s and early 2000s, you may have seen something a little different: a teacher sliding down a third-floor fire escape of the local elementary school as his students watched him through the window racing to the fire station.
This is the story of Bill Deckett, a longtime teacher and fire chief. Over the years, Bill has become a local legend in his hometown of East Tawas, Michigan and a reminder that the greatest heroes often serve quietly with humility.
From Curious Teenager to Fire Chief
Bill first became interested in firefighting when he was a teenager working at a local grocery store. “I’d hear the fire siren go off and watch the store’s owner drop everything and rush out,” he recalled. “I knew I wanted to be part of it, so I asked him how to join.”
This moment sparked a lifelong commitment to public service. In the late 1960s, Bill drove home from college twice a month to attend firefighter training. In 1969, he officially joined the East Tawas Fire Department. Nearly two decades later, in 1988, he was promoted to fire chief.
Balancing the Classroom and the Firehouse
While Bill served his community as a firefighter, he also shaped young minds as a second-grade teacher. For 32 years, he balanced both roles, often pausing lessons mid-day to respond to emergency calls while fellow teachers stepped in to cover his class.
It wasn’t always easy, but the curiosity and enthusiasm of his students kept him going. “They were always so excited to ask me about the call when I got back,” he said. “I’d often turn those moments into fire safety lessons.”
When school was out for summer breaks, Bill took on another role, working for the sheriff’s department as a marine patrol officer and member of the underwater recovery team. This role would later prepare him for one of the most unforgettable rescues of his career.
A Rescue Under Ice
In January 1993, Bill saved a 28-year-old man who had fallen through the ice at Tawas Bay Harbor. “I wasted no time when I got the call and was told what the emergency was,” he said. “I ran right to my house, got my scuba gear and ran there as fast as possible.”
Bill entered the freezing water and dove 15 feet beneath the ice. Despite near-zero visibility, he located the unconscious man and pulled him to the surface. The victim survived after intense medical care, including CPR and a heart-lung bypass to rewarm his blood.
The rescue took place over the weekend, and a local reporter was waiting in his classroom when he arrived to school Monday morning. “I can still picture the photo they used in the local newspaper,” he said. “I was sitting on the edge of my desk with my pager clipped to my belt, and all my students were in front of me with their hands in the air, ready to ask about the rescue.”
Not only did Bill gain local praise, but The U.S. Coast Guard also honored him with the Meritorious Public Service Award, which is proudly displayed in a showcase at the fire department.
From Dive Gear to Wings
Teaching, firefighting, scuba diving - just when you think, where does he find the time for it all? You learn Bill has even turned his love of flying into another way to serve. A licensed pilot since 1976, he occasionally uses his 1947 Luscombe to help locate forest fires when visibility on the ground is poor. “I fly up, circle around until I see something and then radio in the coordinates,” he said.
Bill also serves as vice president of the local flying club and president of the county’s fire chief committee. One of his greatest sources of pride is seeing former students answer the same call to serve. “At our last fire chief meeting, four of the seven people in the room were my former students,” he said. “Did I inspire them to become firefighters? I don’t know. But it’s incredibly rewarding to see them there.”
Still Serving and Teaching Outside the Classroom
Although Bill retired from teaching in 2005, his dedication to public service hasn’t slowed down. In 2024, when the East Tawas Fire Department merged with the town’s police force, his title changed from fire chief to director of public safety.
He may no longer be on the front lines actively fighting fires, but his role as a leader remains strong. “I just use my finger and point these days,” he joked. “I see the fire and tell my fellow firefighters, ‘Put it out!’”
Bill is intentional about building a department culture rooted in camaraderie, service and inclusion. He believes the secret to a strong fire family lies in the ability to laugh together. “We take the job seriously,” he said. “We are always there for each other during difficult times, but it’s important to also have a sense of humor and laugh together,” he said. “We feel like a family, and everyone’s included. We just appointed two women as assistant fire chiefs, which is beyond exciting!”
The Quiet Hero Among Us
For all of his current and past roles — teacher, fire chief, pilot, marine patrolman — Bill remains modest. “I just try to help where I can,” he said. “And I guess I’ve always believed in giving back.”
Bill’s story is a powerful reminder heroes don’t always wear capes. Sometimes they wear a pager, slide down a school fire escape or fly a vintage plane over a smoldering forest.