BUTLER TWP — Township Fire Marshal Larry Christy has retired after spending many of his nearly 40 years in the fire service in Butler Township and Butler, investigating the causes of fires.

But he has another mystery to solve.

Christy said he plans to solve it in the pontoon boat he hasn’t had many chances to use until now.

“I’ve heard people say there are fish in Moraine,” Christy said with a chuckle.

The township held a retirement lunch in his honor in the recreation building at Butler Township Park. Thursday was Christy’s last day on the job.

Christy said he has taken a job as an independent contractor for a Pittsburgh firm that assists municipalities that have financial problems. He will help those municipalities prepare financial plans for police and fire departments.

Since he isn’t an employee, Christy will decide when and how often he works, leaving him plenty of time to enjoy retirement.

“It’s been a long career. I want to spend time with my wife on the boat and with the grandkids — soccer games, lacrosse, cheerleading — things we didn’t get to enjoy in the past,” Christy said.

He also plans to remain involved with the Butler County Emergency Operations Center.

Christy’s career began in May 1979, when he was hired as a firefighter in Butler. The first of several promotions came in 1987, when he became a driver. In 1998 he was became a lieutenant and in 2001 he was promoted to chief and fire marshal. Christy retired from the city in 2008 and was hired by the township later that year.

“I spent almost 30 years with the city. I started as a hoseman, then engine driver, lieutenant in charge of fire prevention and education then chief, building inspector and fire marshal,” Christy said.

Township Commissioner Fred Vero was the mayor of Butler when Christy was hired.

“He hired me. Now he’s retiring me. It took him 40 years to correct a mistake,” Christy joked Thursday.

Vero, for his part, commended Christy for his years of services in both the city and township.

“I hired him as a fireman in the city. Now I voted to accept his retirement,” Vero said. “He’s always been a professional in the city and here.”

For Christy, the timing of the township’s fire marshal position coming open was serendipitous. He said the city fire department pension plan made him ineligible for Social Security benefits, but the job in the township allows him to collect those benefits.

“This job came up at the right time. I came out here to finish my career,” Christy said.

He said he will miss working with township employees, officials and firefighters — but not responding to investigate early morning fires.

“I’m not going to miss going out at two or three in the morning,” Christy said.

During his 10 years as the township fire marshal, Christy conducted fire code inspections for major developments like Greenwood Plaza, Butler Crossing and the tower addition at Butler Memorial Hospital.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said.

He helped oversee the merging of three township volunteer fire departments into one department several years ago.

The Greenwood Village, Meridian and Lyndora departments merged to form the Butler Township Volunteer Fire Department Fire District 3.

The merger came after three departments asked commissioners for help with administration.

“They came to us. It’s working pretty well,” Christy said.

Around the same time as the merger, South Butler Volunteer Fire Department became Fire District 7 and the Mercer Road Volunteer Fire Department became Fire District 6.

After moving from a career fire department in the city — where firefighters are paid, city employees — to working with volunteer departments in the township, Christy said he believes departments with a combination of paid employees and volunteers will become prevalent in the future, because cities can’t expand to increase their tax bases and it is becoming difficult to recruit volunteer firefighters.

“That’s where I see the fire service going in Western Pennsylvania,” Christy said.

The future is untold, but Christy is leaving a legacy of professionalism and cooperation in the township.

Officials said businesses requested and appreciated his annual International Fire Code compliance inspections.

“Larry has always been a professional. He has always treated our residents and our businesses with respect,” said Dave Zarnick, president of board of commissioners.

Vero said Christy’s goal was to work with businesses to ensure their buildings were safe and issuing citations for noncompliance was a last resort. Inspections covered fire alarms, sprinkler systems, emergency lighting and fire doors.

When businesses brought in new managers, Christy taught them how those systems worked. “They want him in there. He inspects businesses and gives them time to comply. He’ll work with you,” Vero said.

Zarnick said businesses appreciated Christy’s efforts. Some wrote “thank you” on the checks they sent to the township to pay for the inspections, he said.

Christy taught training courses for fire marshals across the state, Zarnick said. His list of credentials is lengthy.