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Chief's Blog

Thank You For Allowing Me To Serve You, Madison

posted October 19, 2021

Today is a bittersweet day as I am announcing my upcoming retirement from the City of Madison Fire Department. My last day serving as Fire Chief will be April 1, 2022. 

When I was appointed Fire Chief on January 2, 2012, I made a promise to the organization, to the community, to my family, and to myself that I would serve to the best of my ability and with honor and dignity for 10 years. My time has come and I feel like I have fulfilled that promise. I am proud to have played a role in shaping the City of Madison Fire Department into the one of the most innovative and progressive fire departments in the nation.

During my tenure we saw the addition of two new fire stations; expansion of our service into Shorewood Hills, Blooming Grove, Town of Burke, and Town of Madison; the launch of our Community Paramedicine program—and more recently the CARES initiative—plus the establishment of our Peer Support Team. The City of Madison also achieved a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Service Organization (ISO) and we made the switch to PFAS-free firefighting foam, in addition to a number of other environmentally-friendly innovations. 

Of course, the last decade has brought challenges as well. The tragic and untimely death of Firefighter/Paramedic Richard Garner in 2018 was the department’s first line-of-duty death in decades. A year later, the department was dealt another devastating blow with the death of Apparatus Engineer Todd Mahoney. And for the better part of the last two years we all have had to adapt to the shifting landscape brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To the members of the Madison Fire Department, all I can say is, “Wow!” The last 32 years went by in the blink of an eye. I have truly enjoyed working with each and every one of you. I am simply awestruck by the dedication that all of you display each and every day. When I started my career in August of 1989 I had no idea the amount I would learn, the number friends I would make, and the amazing people I would meet, and it has been an incredible and rewarding journey.

Our success as a Department wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my colleagues in City government. Our ability to have an open dialogue and to collaborate around shared goals has been the cornerstone of our progress.

I would also like to thank the members of the community for their continued support over the years. You have frequently expressed your appreciation for our members and the vital services they provide. You recognize the importance of what we do, and we are so thankful for your heartfelt expressions of gratitude. 

The list of people to whom I am indebted is long and substantial. I have learned far more than I have taught, from so many people.  I am happy to call so many members of the community my friends. I will miss everyone I have gotten to know over the past 10 years as Fire Chief. I am very humbled to be your servant and I wouldn’t have traded this experience for the world.

Thank you again, Madison, for allowing me to serve you for the last 32 years!

Steven A. Davis
Fire Chief
City of Madison

This content is free for use with credit to the City of Madison - Fire and a link back to the original post.

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Recent Posts

  • Thank You For Allowing Me To Serve You, Madison posted October 19, 2021
  • MFD Expands Services To Town Of Madison posted November 2, 2020
  • COVID-19: The MFD Is Prepared posted March 12, 2020
  • Madison Needs A Ninth Ambulance Now posted November 11, 2019

Archive

2021
October
  • Thank You For Allowing Me To Serve You, Madison
2020
November
  • MFD Expands Services To Town Of Madison
March
  • COVID-19: The MFD Is Prepared
2019
November
  • Madison Needs A Ninth Ambulance Now
January
  • Welcome, Recruit Class 8, To the Madison Fire Department!
2018
July
  • We Send Our Condolences To Sun Prairie Today
May
  • Home Fire Sprinklers: A Small Investment That Could Save Your Life
2017
December
  • 17 Recruits Graduate Fire Academy Class 6
November
  • Remembering Former Madison Fire Chief Ed Durkin
September
  • A 'Thank You' Note To Our Partners On Stratton Way
June
  • Calling All Volunteers! CampHERO Kicks Off Its 6th Season
2016
December
  • The MFD Lost A Good One…
October
  • MFD Welcomes Twenty New Recruits!
September
  • Reflections On This 15th Anniversary Of 9/11
June
  • Project SOAR and the MFD
May
  • “The Butter Fire” – Lessons Learned From Madison’s Biggest Blaze
March
  • Expanding Emergency Medical Services In Our Community
2015
November
  • Ambulances To Remain Stationed At Willy, Monroe Streets
  • Veterans Day Thank You
  • Developing Tomorrow's Leaders: Recruits Visit East High LEAD Program
August
  • City Leaders Practice Large-Scale Emergency Response
July
  • Madison Fire Recruit Class 4 Begins
  • MFD Begins Serving Towns of Blooming Grove, Burke Today
June
  • Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Boss Lift
May
  • Friday Nights at the Y!
  • Madison Fire Department receives Public Health Award
February
  • Madison Fire Department Awarded Many Honors at County EMS Banquet
  • Neighborhoods Meeting
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January
  • The MFD is on the move
  • Madison Fire Emergency Medical Services Technology
2014
October
  • Ebola Response
August
  • Apollo Road Fire
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July
  • Firefighter Fun Day!
  • Safety Town
  • CampHERO
June
  • 2014 Battle of The Badges
April
  • 911 Center Update
  • Madison Fire Department is Getting Smaller
March
  • Happy St. Patrick's Day!
  • CampHERO Kickoff!
February
  • 911 Center Issues
  • Winter Continues 2014
January
  • Atlas Avenue Fire: A Community Event
2013
September
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August
  • Happy Nicholas S. Fisher Day!
  • It's Hot
  • Fire Admin Has Moved!
May
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January
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  • Why do I see two or three fire trucks at my local grocery store every morning?
  • Winter Season
2012
December
  • Why do we send a fire truck when you call for an ambulance?
October
  • Madison Fire Department avoids landmark catastrophe!
September
  • Fire Prevention Month

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City of Madison Fire Department

City of Madison Fire Department
314 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
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