Holland Volunteer Fire Department’s 2014 Firefighter of the Year says the organization is looking for new members.

Lt. Charles “Chuck” Riehle joined the department after deciding to stay in the area when his stint in the Navy ended in 2005.

“I was living in Norfolk and working in Smithfield at the time,” Riehle said.

Riehle said that Mark Ellis, chief of Holland VFD, enticed him onboard in 2007. “I assisted restructuring the department,” he said.

He had learned the ropes volunteering with a department in Gowanda, N.Y., a small village upstate.

“Community,” replied Riehle, asked why he decided to become a volunteer firefighter in the first place. “It just turned into a passion afterwards,” he added.

Riehle has attained a raft of certifications, including Firefighter 1 and 2, Pump Operator, Emergency Vehicle Operations and Arson Detection.

In 2011, he started attending college to study fire science, but that was placed on hiatus.

“I have a little bit more knowledge of fire service than your average volunteer,” he said.

Riehle works as a material handler at Norfolk Naval Base. He said it took him seven years to move from Norfolk to Virginia Beach, back to Norfolk again, out to Whaleyville and now Holland — close to the station.

He’s married, with a stepchild and a newborn on the way. His wife knew what she was getting into, he said.

“It takes a lot of time,” Riehle said of being a volunteer firefighter, “but in the long run it pays off.”

In recent times, some valuable members have left the department for opportunities elsewhere, Riehle said. “Anyone that’s wanting to learn and be a part of the community in a new aspect, we would appreciate the help,” he added.

Ellis said Riehle’s award is “well-deserved.”

“He’s done everything he’s supposed to do,” Ellis said. “He’s always been one that I could call on to help get the job done, if I’ve had maintenance issues or needed someone to assist me with training.”

Riehle said he intends to stay put. “It’s my first station in Virginia, and it will be my last,” he said.

He said it was about time he receive the award. “I’ve been here long enough; it’s about time,” he said. “I finally got something.”