MANTECA — After years in the fire service, Bob Pfirmann has been promoted to commander of the Manteca Fire Department’s senior citizen volunteer program.

SAFE, which stands for Seniors Assisting Fire Efforts, is a 3-year-old program involving more than 25 senior citizens who volunteer to help the Manteca Fire Department. Seniors perform a variety of duties, including weed abatement checks, daily mail runs, providing refreshments to firefighters at major fires, and assisting with fire prevention educational programs for second-, fourth- and sixth-graders.

Pfirmann, 80, was a SAFE pioneer and served as supervisor of the Prevention Division for the last three years. In his new position, he’ll oversee the program’s three supervisors in administration, operations and finance and continue his duties in prevention.

“I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty smooth-run organization.”

Before moving to Manteca, Pfirmann had a long career with the Oceanside Fire Department in Long Island, N.Y. He joined the department as a volunteer when he was 18 and served in a variety of roles, including chief for two years. He’s the department’s oldest living former chief.

Pfirmann moved to California in 1975 and to Manteca in 1996. He has assisted the Manteca Police Department in its senior volunteers program, SHARP (Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police), for 11 years.

Anyone interested in joining Manteca SAFE must be at least 55 years old and live in a community near Manteca. Applications are available at all Manteca fire stations.

For information: 824-0868.