Decades of service

GCFD 3’s Jim Kling retires from fire service after 34 years

QUINCY — Firefighters and EMTs have the chance to help people out in trying times, and Jim Kling said that was something that attracted him to firefighting, and kept him in it over a 34-year career. “We get called when people have bad days,” he said. “If you enjoy helping the community and the people in the community, it’s the perfect job for you.” Kling retired Jan. 1 from his job as assistant chief and fire marshal for Grant County Fire District 3. He joined GCFD 3 as a volunteer in 1988 and became a part of the paid staff in July 1996. He was working for the city of Quincy, he said, when a friend asked him about volunteering for the fire department...