Celebrity roast

Mountain Home's retiring fire chief Phil Gridley, left, reacts as public works director Wayne Shepherd presents him with a gold painted fire hydrant wrench during a retirement party Friday afternoon.

The city's main fire station was filled to near capacity as city officials, representatives from local fire agencies and well wishers gathered to mark Gridley's retirement after 35 years of service to the Mountain Home community.

In many cases, the celebration turned into a celebrity roast as people stepped on stage to remember the chief's more memorable -- and humorous -- moments with the department.