Mountain Grove Fire Chief Mark Bushong officially announced his plans to retire during the City of Mountain Grove’s City Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 9.
In a letter read out loud near the end of the City Council meeting, Chief Bushong said his intent is for retirement to be effective Jan. 2, 2024.
Chief Bushong started working as a volunteer firefighter in Mountain Grove way back in April of 1985.
In 1998, he was appointed Fire Chief for the City of Mountain Grove.
Then in 2003, he became the City’s first full time firefighter.
“I’ve been proud to be part of the great things the City of Mountain Grove and the Mountain Grove Fire Department has accomplished,” Bushong said in his letter. “I’ve worked with many great people during my career and I can honestly say that working for the City of Mountain Grove has been one of the best parts of my life.”
He said the decision has been a mix of both “joy and sadness.”
Bushong spent a total of 38 years working with Mountain Grove’s fire service.
