06/06/2026
Quick Update from Your New Chief
I am truly humbled by the opportunity to serve the citizens of our City and County. Just as importantly, I believe strongly in servant leadership, and one of my highest priorities is ensuring that our personnel are supported and valued. This includes our volunteers, part-time employees, and the career firefighters who will soon be joining our department.
Many people have asked how we are able to implement a 24/72 shift schedule and maintain competitive pay scales. The answer is simple: our personnel are highly trained professionals. They are expected to be proficient in firefighting, emergency medical care, hazardous materials response, fire inspections, community relations, rope rescue, water rescue, active shooter response, and many other critical functions that are part of our daily operations.
As Chief, I also understand the demands placed on our firefighters. A 24-hour shift can include multiple emergency calls throughout the night, combined with the responsibilities of daily operations and training. Personnel often return home physically and mentally fatigued, leaving limited time for family and personal commitments.
That is why our department and city are committed to fostering a culture that supports the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of our employees—both at work and at home. We want our personnel to thrive in every aspect of their lives.
A traditional 24/48 schedule results in firefighters working more than 700 additional hours annually than the schedule we are implementing, and approximately 800 more hours than a standard 40-hour work week. We believe there is a better way to support our employees while continuing to provide exceptional service to our community.
The fire service is simple at its core: take care of your people before yourself, and let firefighters be firefighters. Too often, firefighters feel unheard and become nothing more than a number filling a staffing requirement. I firmly believe that if we invest in our personnel, they will invest heavily in our department, our city, and our community.
None of this would have been possible without the outstanding support of our City Hall staff, Mayor, City Manager, and City Council. They stand behind me just as I stand behind our employees—100%.
Thank you to everyone who has applied to join our department. We will begin interviews soon.
Good luck, and stay safe!
Chief Trent Smith
