The Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department has announced the death of Life Member George Wade, the department's oldest living life member.

Wade began his firefighting career in 1966 with the Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department, then joined the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department in 1970 at the age of 22. He was hired as a full-time fireman and eventually worked as a technician in charge of maintaining apparatus and rescue equipment.

Throughout his career, Wade received advanced firefighting and heavy rescue training at the University of Maryland. He was honored for numerous emergency responses, including assisting with extrication after a major vehicle incident in 1975 and rescuing people during flooding in 1972.

Wade was known for his dedication to training and apparatus maintenance. He also helped instruct the department's driver training program and taught many firemen over the years.

Wade retired in 1986 due to a service-related condition and received Life Membership in 1988. According to department officials, his decades of service, professionalism, and dedication to the community will be long remembered.