Joey Widgeon and Joe Enste were nominated during the OPVFD 2023 membership meeting.

Veteran members Widgeon and Enste get nod to serve as chief, president respectively

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(Dec. 14, 2023) Firefighting has been a lifelong commitment for the new chief and president of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department.

Chief Joey Widgeon and President Joe Enste were elected to their new positions last week during the fire department’s annual elections.

Chief Widgeon, 32, started with the Showell Fire Department as a cadet when he was 14 years old. He is now an honorary member of Showell. He moved to Ocean Pines and joined the OPVFD in 2014.

President Enste, 36, joined the OPVFD as a cadet in 2003 at age 15 because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks two years earlier.

 “I remember, as a high school freshman, seeing all of the news coverage and feeling like I wished there was something I could be doing to help.”

Widgeon’s twin brother, Jarrett, is the chief of the Showell Fire Department. His wife and mother are members of the auxiliary. Enste’s wife regularly volunteers .

“Our family has always been into it [firefighting]. We all jumped into it in high school,” Widgeon said.

Enste’s young son, Tripp, is already invested in the department’s operations.

“He loves to talk shop when I get back from a call, asking what fire truck we took, did I drive it or what was my job, and was anyone hurt.”

As president, Enste will oversee the fire department’s board of directors and will collaborate with the chief and administration.  As chief, Widgeon will oversee operations. Both are volunteers with full-time jobs.

Widgeon had been assistant chief for seven years, so he said it was a natural step. Also during the election, former Chief Steve Grunewald was voted 1st assistant chief and former President Dave Van Gasbeck is now vice president. Van Gasbeck nominated Enste to be the new president.

This brings a younger generation to the top of the management of the OPVFD.

Enste said he will focus on new ideas for recruitment, fundraising and retention.

“To provide the best service, we have to have the best people. There are more great people out there,” Enste said. He said the department will start to do more marketing for membership.

“We want great people to join,” he said.

He noted that there many opportunities for people to do different things with the fire department and that it’s not all fighting fires. The department always needs help from people with a wide range of skill sets, such as grant writing, construction, marketing and public relations.

“Come and talk to us,” Enste said.

He also said he enjoys and appreciates the social aspect of being involved in the fire department.

“There are several of us with young kids and families and we have a great support system.”

During the Berlin parade, members brought their families with them.

“It’s not unusual on a drill night that the wives will bring food and drinks.”

“When someone joins the fire service, it’s not just the individual who joins, it’s the entire family. We make it as social with our families and can be, Enste said.

“We’re ready and wanting to welcome you into our department. We provide all the training and gear for free. No experience is necessary and no matter your background, we have opportunities for everyone.”

A new south side fire house has been a priority for a number of years now. Due to the transition in leadership, the new team is looking at the various options and will share details in the coming months.

The department has a government grant that needs to be spent by 2029, but Enste said he is not eager to rush the process.

Currently, OPVFD has two fundraising programs going. It recently sent a direct mail piece to residents and it has launched a fundraiser to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the department, with proceeds going to help build the new fire station. Donors can purchase a personalized brick for the firehouse by visiting bricksrus.com/donorsite/opvfd