At a banquet that capped the group’s annual conference, the Washington Fire Chiefs (WFC) honored North Kitsap Fire & Rescue’s Dan Smith as Fire Chief of the Year on May 25.
The Dan Packer award, named for the East Pierce Fire & Rescue Fire Chief killed in 2008 when overrun by flames while deployed on a wildland fire in Northern California, is given to the association member who emulates the late Chief Packer’s strong leadership qualities, including: loyalty, determination, strength in action and in relationships.
Other requirements of the award are:
- Performance consistent with the WFC Code of Ethics
- Courtesy and respect in interactions with the community, fellow employees and fellow members of the WFC
- Significant contributions to the safe and efficient operations of the fire service
- Contributions above and beyond the normal call of duty
During the award presentation, WFC President and Spokane County Fire District #9 Assistant Chief Jim Walkowski said, “His (Packer’s) loss has left a great hole in our hearts. To us, he was a respected chief, a valued teacher, a mentor and a friend. He was also a firefighter who loved his job.” The WFC’s Fire Chief of the Year Award was renamed in 2009 to honor the group’s fallen member. Walkowski went on to describe additional qualities shared by the award’s inspiration and its 2016 recipient, including a shared commitment to earning and maintaining the public’s trust. “We shouldn’t expect the respect of the community just because we are the fire department; we must to earn it every day through hard work and a concentrated effort to provide exceptional customer service.” Walkowski noted that people were drawn to Packer, trusting his judgment and looking to him as a role model. He had a great sense of humor and never took himself too seriously. Packer’s contributions to the profession in combination with his qualities of leadership, action and humility set the standard for excellence in the fire service, said Walkowski. Smith, he added, was selected from a field of six nominees because Smith meets that lofty standard.
Smith represented the WFC on the U.S. Forest Service’s team investigating Packer’s death, and volunteered for the difficult task of returning the fallen chief’s belongings. During last summer’s particularly difficult fire season, Smith played a pivotal role on both sides of the Cascades. He connected local fire officials struggling under the tragedy of the wildfires with vital and desperately-needed resources from the state.
The 59 year-old Everett native started as a volunteer with Kingston Ambulance. In the 35 years since, he has earned a reputation as a visionary and a recognized leader in wildland firefighting, multi-jurisdictional coordination, resource deployment, local emergency medical services and more. Smith has been the driving force behind NKF&R’s evolution from a largely-volunteer outfit operating with outdated apparatus from one station to today’s highly-regarded and well-equipped department of 45 employees and four staffed stations. He formally assumed leadership of NKF&R upon his promotion to fire chief in 2008, earning the loyalty and respect of his team. Says NKF&R Assistant Chief Rick LaGrandeur, “To Chief Smith, no one is ‘just a volunteer’ or ‘just a secretary;’ all are important as individuals and as team members.”
Chief Smith joins an elite group of past honorees including:
2015 Fire Chief Jeff Jensen - Tacoma Fire Department
2014 Fire Chief Dave LaFave - Cowlitz Fire & Rescue 2
2013 Fire Chief Wayne Senter - South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
2012 Fire Chief Lee Soptich - King County Fire District 2
2011 Fire Chief Mike Thompson – Spokane Valley Fire
2010 Fire Chief Mark Beck – Stevens Fire Department 1