Godfrey retires after 50 years of firefighting in the Big Horn Basin

Former Big Horn County Fire District #2 Chief Brent Godfrey was recognized recently by the friends, family, current/former firefighters and members of the fire board. A barbecue was held in his honor at the district’s fire hall in Basin.  

Godfrey started as a volunteer firefighter in Manderson when he was 18 years old. He spent 12 years with the department.  He moved to Basin where he spent 38 years on the Basin Volunteer Fire Department/BHCFD #2.  Of those years, 23 were as the fire chief.  Current fire chief Fred Sherburne said Godfrey had high standards and provided good leadership. District #2’s assistant fire chief Stuart DesRosier added that Godfrey was and is someone he looks up to as an example of service to the community. 

The biggest structure fire Godfrey had while chief was in the 1990s.  It was a hay cubing business on Third Street in Basin. The department once responded to a train wreck behind the fire hall. They had to offload a rail car full of hot oil. 

Godfrey was asked for some funny stories involving him and the other firefighters. He said he had some, but they weren’t fit to go in the paper. A funny instance he was willing to share was when the firefighters hosted water fights at fair. The reporter Tammy Thornberry was taking photos. One of the hoses got loose and swept her off her feet.  Another funny memory was when the firefighters had a dunking booth at the fair. For his turn in the booth Godfrey dressed up like a woman.

 Worland Fire Protection District #1 Fire Chief Chris Kocher was at the barbecue. He said “Brent has been a great friend and certainly an honor to work with for nearly 30 years.”  

Godfrey and his wife Kristine have moved to Hyattville.  He jokingly commented he isn’t sure yet if he will join the Hyattville Volunteer Fire Department.  He will stay on as the county fire warden. He said he was honored to serve the people of the county, the fire district and the town of Basin.