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Rick Smith
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Person You Should Know — Rick Smith
GARDENDALE — Rick Smith, 35, of Hayden is fire marshal for the Gardendale Fire Department. He has served in that role for two years. On Monday, he was promoted to lieutenant. Smith has been with the fire department since 2006.
• Will you remain the fire marshal after your promotion?
Yes. My job won’t really change that much on a day-to-day basis. The promotion mainly just gives you a little more clout within the department and out in the community.
• What does being fire marshal entail?
I head up the Fire Prevention Bureau, which handles business inspections, fire code enforcement and fire investigations. I also do public education, which means doing station tours with kids or speaking to groups about fire safety.
• How did you get started as a firefighter?
I started as a volunteer with the Kimberly Fire Department in 1991. My grandfather, (the late) Harold Roper and a couple of my uncles helped start that department. My father, Richard Smith, also worked for the department for awhile. When I turned 17, I started making calls. It just went from there.
• When did your full-time career start?
After I graduated from high school I went through the paramedic program. I worked on an ambulance for awhile, and then I went full-time with Adamsville in 1995. From there I went to Bessemer, and then I transferred here.
• What do you enjoy most about your job?
Every day is different. It’s never boring. I like bringing kids into the station and hearing the questions they come up with. I’m really interested in the investigation part of the job. I enjoy digging through and figuring out why a fire started and how it started.
• How many people does the Gardendale Fire Department employ?
There are 20 of us: Three shifts of six people who work 24 hours on and 48 off, Fire Chief Clint Doss and me.
• Tell me about your family.
I’m married and have three sons.
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