Derby Fire Chief Brad Smith has faithfully served our community since 2004 and will retire on July 5. What a pleasure to congratulate him on 41 years of serving Winfield, El Dorado and then Derby as he worked his way up through the ranks from firefighter to chief.

Chief Smith has the distinction of being Derby’s first full-time Fire Chief. He spent the past 15 years hiring and training staff, writing procedures, buying fire equipment, working fire scenes and medical rescues, updating existing fire stations and building a new fire station, and transitioning from an all-volunteer department. His achievements are the department’s achievements, and they are impressive.

Derby Fire & Rescue has a track record of qualified professionals who arrive within 4 minutes to approximately 90% of 9-1-1 calls dispatched to them. They put a priority on safety education, fire prevention, and training for firefighting and emergency medical services. Thank you, Chief Smith.

Because of the quality of this department, the community enjoys an ISO Rating of 2 (on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best). This Insurance Services Office rating is reflected in the lower rates Derby homeowners and commercial properties pay for their property insurance. Thank you, Chief Smith.

Derby Fire & Rescue has excellent relationships with neighboring fire departments. They routinely help each other through mutual and automatic aid agreements, so all you have to think about is calling 9-1-1 and knowing with confidence that the crew that can get there the quickest will respond, regardless of whose name is on the fire truck. Thank you, Chief Smith.

Chief Brad Smith is a joy to work with. His positive attitude is contagious. He has repeatedly gone to bat for his department to get the resources required to build the type of department needed and deserved by our growing Derby community. The support he shows for his personnel is second to none. He has led the countywide and statewide associations of fire chiefs. He is respected by his peers and beloved by his department. Thank you, Chief Smith.

I hope you will send Chief Smith a note of thanks (addressed to City Hall, 611 N. Mulberry) or attend either the Community Open House on Thursday, July 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or his retirement reception on July 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at the new Fire Station 81 on the corner of Madison Avenue and Woodlawn. You can tour the new fire station at both events, so bring your kids and grandkids! Both events will have limited on-site parking and will have the Derby Dash shuttle bus from Madison Avenue Central Park.

Kathy Sexton
City Manager

Published in the Derby Informer on June 21, 2019.