Randy Black, incoming chief of the Durango Fire Protection District, was pinned with a new badge Monday during a pinning ceremony at Station 1 in Bodo Industrial Park.
Three previous chiefs – Dan Noonan, Allen Clay and Hal Doughty – gave short speeches and offered words of wisdom and encouragement to help Black in his new role.
Black, 53, said any successes he achieves will be built upon the foundation laid by the previous chiefs.
“I can't thank them enough for the organization that I have the honor to be able to lead,” Black said.
Noonan, who served as chief from 2007 through 2015, said he had an office right next door to the office of Mike Dunaway, who was the previous chief. They both had the same view looking out their offices. Noonan said he didn’t think much would change once he became chief. But he warned Black that the view became very different, referring to the new and heightened level of responsibilities.
“I'm honored to have been part of this organization, and I'm honored that you're carrying it to the next level,” Noonan said.
Clay, who served as chief of the Animas fire district before it consolidated with DFPD, said the fire department has come a long way since the 1970s when he started in the field. He encouraged the DFPD board of directors to support Black as chief.
“He's the guy that makes everything happen down here on the ground,” Clay said.
Doughty, the outgoing chief who served in the top role for about seven years, said neither DFPD nor the community has benefited more from someone as prepared and experienced as Black to lead the organization.
Black has been running the department since June when Doughty took a medical leave.
“I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing what you're able to accomplish,” Doughty told Black.
He reminded Black to take care of his employees first and foremost, “because you can't take care of the public without taking care of the people that work for you.”
Black’s wife, Kathy, pinned the chief’s badge on Black’s shirt, and his son, Ben, pinned him with new collar pins. Karen Barger, president of the DFPD board of directors, delivered the oath of office.
Black was chosen by the DFPD board of directions in September from a pool of 20 candidates who were identified during a national search.
Black has volunteered and worked with DFPD in various capacities for 33 years. He was born and raised in Colorado and is a Fort Lewis College graduate.
He said he plans to play a greater role in community engagement, seek solutions to perpetual funding woes, and focus on retention and recruitment efforts.
“We’re certainly wanting to become more engaged in more levels of the community, and that’s everything from social groups, to the chamber of commerce (and) economic development alliance,” he said after the pinning ceremony.
He said the DFPD has come a long way in 30 years, from three separate fire agencies to a consolidated district that covers 325 square miles and serves a population of about 53,000 people. It is now the second largest fire department on the Western Slope.
“We continue to grow and evolve as an organization as our community gets bigger,” Black said. “We're no longer a small fire department, and there are some growing pains that come with that as we transition from a small organization into a mid-size organization. … We need facilities that meet that need. We need staff that meets that need.”
shane@durangoherald.com
