Rich Gleason doesn’t have the back story you’d expect from your typical small-town firefighter. In 1995, shortly after relocating to Hopedale from Sherborn, the then-insurance salesman had a couple of beers at a house party with the chief at the time and one of the town’s firefighters.

“They said I should come down and be an on-call member of the Fire Department,’’ Gleason said. “I thought that was a bit nutty because I wore wing-tipped shoes, silk ties, and button-down shirts, but I fell in love with it.’’

Gleason has served his community ever since, full time for the past 15 years. The veteran firefighter loves his adopted hometown. He describes the bedroom community as “idyllic,’’ and it’s easy to see why. Hopedale is small (the entire town is 5.17 square miles) but with that size comes a tight-knit area where people care about one another. The town’s schools, places of worship, Fire Department, and library are all centrally located. Hopedale Pond and Parklands is a popular recreation area for residents looking to get fresh air in its very scenic setting.

There are unique circumstances that come with working in the same town you reside in — Gleason knows most of the people he is called to help — but he wouldn’t change a thing, especially considering how much firefighters are admired in small towns like this.

“We’re definitely held in high regard,’’ Gleason said. “Sometimes I don’t know people who I’m called to help, but they know me.’’

Jon Mael is a freelance writer based in Sharon. He can be reached at jmael2014@gmail.com.