Chris Adkins, fire chief for the Fire Department of Bellevue-Dayton, addressed the Dayton city council meeting Wednesday to give what he said was his final report. The chief is retiring after 27 years in fire service, 20 of which were spent at the cities’ joint fire department.
“I cannot say thank you enough for the time and the collaboration, the professionalism that we have all shared,” said Adkins. “I couldn’t have done my job without you and without the people in the firehouse that are going on runs right now. It’s been a pleasure.”
“I personally, and on behalf of the city of Dayton, want to thank you for your service,” said Mayor Ben Baker.
Council member Jeff Volter said, “I just want to say thank you for everything you’ve done. Serving on the fire board with you, it’s been a pleasure. The job you’ve done with the firehouse has been tremendous, and we’re going to miss you. “
Captain Brent Schafer will take over as interim fire chief beginning at the end of October. The department is now advertising for a new chief and has an application on the Fire Department of Bellevue-Dayton website.
“We dealt with COVID and staffing issues, and the guys that were there, they just kept on going. I think that’s a testament to them. They, along with you all, have made my job easy,” Adkins said.
With that council, officials and audience members gave the chief a standing ovation.
The Fire Department of Bellevue-Dayton (FDBD) provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire inspections,and public education programs to the 13,000 residents of Bellevue and Dayton.