The Fleming Fire Department is mourning the loss of longtime member Joe Saville, who died following a battle with cancer.
Saville served with Company No. 1 for more than three decades after joining the department in 1989, where he worked as an interior firefighter and New York State emergency medical technician.
In addition to his local service, Saville spent a career serving his country at both the military and federal levels. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1990, serving at stations in Hawaii and Buffalo, and later built a more than 20-year career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
During his time with CBP, Saville rose to the rank of Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agent within the agency’s Air and Marine Operations division, where he worked to address maritime threats. He also served as a K9 handler in Philadelphia and was most recently assigned to the Rochester office.
Fire department officials praised Saville’s commitment to public service, calling his decades of work a reflection of his dedication to both his community and country.
He is remembered by colleagues as a longtime member who consistently answered the call to serve. The department extended condolences to his family.
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