SPOKANE — Dan Smith, chief of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, is Washington Fire Chiefs’ Chief of the Year.

Smith received the Dan Packer Award on May 25 at the association’s annual conference. The award is named for the East Pierce Fire & Rescue fire chief killed in 2008 when he was overrun by flames while deployed on a wildland fire in Northern California.

According to Washington Fire Chiefs, or WFC, the recipient of the award exhibits the following traits:

— Chief Packer’s leadership qualities of loyalty, determination, and strength in action and in relationships.  
— Performance consistent with the WFC Code of Ethics.
— Courtesy and respect in interactions with the community, fellow employees and fellow members of the WFC.
— Significant contributions to the safe and efficient operations of the fire service.
— Contributions above and beyond the normal call of duty.

During the award presentation, WFC President Jim Walkowski, assistant chief of Spokane County Fire District No. 9, said Packer was “a respected chief, a valued teacher, a mentor and a friend. He was also a firefighter who loved his job.”

He said Smith shares those same qualities, as well as Packer’s commitment to earning and maintaining the public’s trust.

“We shouldn’t expect the respect of the community just because we are the fire department,” Walkowski said. “We must to earn it every day through hard work and a concentrated effort to provide exceptional customer service.”

Like Packer, Smith has a “great sense of humor” and never takes himself too seriously, Walkowski said.

Smith was one of six nominees.

Smith represented the WFC on the U.S. Forest Service’s team investigating Packer’s death, and volunteered for the difficult task of returning the fallen chief’s belongings. During last summer’s fire season, Smith played a pivotal role on both sides of the Cascades, connecting local fire officials with desperately needed resources from the state.

Smith, 59, is a native of Everett. His joined Kingston Ambulance as a volunteer 35 years ago and, Walkowski said, in the ensuing years became known as a visionary and leader in wildland firefighting, multi-jurisdictional coordination, resource deployment, local emergency medical services and more.

During Smith’s tenure, NKF&R has grown from a largely volunteer department with one station to a well-equipped department of 45 employees and four staffed stations. He became fire chief in 2008.

“To Chief Smith, no one is ‘just a volunteer’ or ‘just a secretary,’” NKF&R Assistant Chief Rick LaGrandeur said in an announcement of the award. “All are important as individuals and as team members.”

Here’s a list of past honorees:

2015: Fire Chief Jeff Jensen, Tacoma Fire Department.
2014: Fire Chief Dave LaFave, Cowlitz Fire & Rescue 2.
2013: Fire Chief Wayne Sente, South Kitsap Fire & Rescue.
2012: Fire Chief Lee Soptich, King County Fire District 2.
2011: Fire Chief Mike Thompson, Spokane Valley Fire.
2010: Fire Chief Mark A. Beck, Stevens Fire Department 1.