HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Horseheads Fire Department and the Sullivan name go hand-in-hand.  Sullivans have served as chief for more than 60 years, and starting June 1st, the torch is being passed on to a new chief.  After 18 years of service as chief, Arthur Sullivan is stepping down.

"I tell everybody it's the greatest job I never wanted because of how it happened, but it meant so much to me to continue on," said Arthur Sullivan, the chief of the Horseheads Fire Department.

Arthur Sullivan has been volunteering with the Horseheads Fire Department since 1976.  Firefighting is in the Sullivan family's bones; before Arthur became chief, it was his brother Dick. Before them, their uncle George.

"I want to help people, regardless of what the scene is. That's how I was brought up, that's what I was shown, and I continued on.  I was very fortunate to make all these calls, a lot of them because we were self-employed, so I was able to leave our business and my family being very understanding, I would leave them to go help people. But a day like today when somebody comes back after doing CPR on them, that's what it's all about," said Arthur.

Arthur took over as chief in 2006, after his brother Dick died in the line of duty.  Dick assisted on a training drill, and later was found unresponsive at home dead of a heart attack.

The Sullivans have been a leading presence with the Horseheads Fire Department since 1953, 71 years of service.

"To know my grandfather helped start this, my great uncle, my uncle, my dad, my cousins being involved in it, Sullivan has always been a part of the Horseheads legacy of the fire department. It's really hard to put into words what it means, because it's really just who our family is. It's what we do," said Michelle Ignaszewski, Arthur's daughter.

Across a 71-year legacy, the Sullivans have impacted thousands of lives; leaving an indelible mark on the Horseheads community.

"Artie's had a great impact, just like his brother..He's got his fingers in everything and he's behind the scenes type of guy, like his brother too. So, he's the type of person that you know he's behind the scenes, and that always makes everybody feel a little bit better," said Richard Kimball, a paramedic with Erway Ambulance.  Kimball has worked alongside the Sullivan family for thirty years.

According to department records, Arthur has responded to more than 7,000 calls since 2001.  While he's stepping down as chief, he'll still be answering the call as a member of the department.

"I'm very proud of what I've done throughout the years, and I want to continue on. It's a very important family tradition for me, and I want to continue on. And I'm very proud of my firefighters," said Arthur.

The antique truck at the fire department proudly displays the generations of Sullivan family helmets, a visible symbol of their service.  George Sullivan was chief from 1953 until his death in 1969.  Dick Sullivan was chief from 1979 until his line of duty death in 2006.  Arthur served as chief from 2006 until 2024.  George and Arthur Sr. also had a long-standing impact on the Town and Country Fire Department.

"Horseheads without a Sullivan is just...well, we're going to find out soon what it's going to be like. Everything's going to be great, but it's just going to be different," said Kimball.

First Assistant Chief Ryan Wheeler will be stepping into the role of chief.  He has been with the department since 1997, and also comes from a long line of firefighters.