The two departments are not merging, but SBM leadership will administer both departments, making it the third largest population protected under a single fire administration. Chief Charlie Smith calls it a collaboration.
“One of the big things, what SBM brought to the table is we have a greater economy of scale. We have a larger organization, and we have the administrative capacity to be able to answer to this type of agreement, this type of collaboration,” said Smith.
Chief Smith says he’s cautiously excited about the unique set up. It should help Centennial by improving training opportunities, and beefing up the daytime staffing. That’s one of more than a dozen goals in the contract and something many fire departments need. Smith says residents should see better response times.
“Hiring two people was part of the contract,” said Smith. “Where the [Centennial] district made up the difference is, they didn’t have to hire a full time fire chief and they didn’t have to hire a full time assistant chief. So they contract with us for a lesser amount than it would be to hire those personnel and we could transfer some of that cost savings to what we call, boots on the ground, or a firefighter and a fire inspector is one of the positions as well.”
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. Seven different governing bodies had to sign off on the three year contract. But Smith says the Centennial crew is very dedicated and it was important to keep the Centennial name.
“That was one of the primary concerns with all of the organizations, keeping the identity of the Centennial Fire District. Communities, rightly so, are very protective of their fire departments and their fire stations and the people that serve them as firefighters. But also that the Centennial firefighters remain Centennial firefighters, protecting their pensions and making sure they remain as whole now as they were prior to this agreement.”
After three years there will be discussion of what the future relationships will be. There’s also an early termination clause for each party if needed.
“A big part of this is uncharted. Together all of us, all 5 cities were creating something fairly new,” said Smith.
Smith says the transition toward the effective September first date started in mid-August.
