Incoming Fire Chief Curtis Poovey

Richardson City Manager Dan Johnson has appointed Curtis Poovey to serve as the next Fire Chief of the Richardson Fire Department. Poovey currently serves as an Assistant Chief in the department and has been a member of the Richardson Fire Department for nearly 24 years. His first day serving as Chief will be Jan. 1, 2017.

“I am excited that we have the opportunity to appoint Curtis to this role in our community,” said Johnson. “During his near 24 years of service he has demonstrated his ability to meet and excel at his responsibilities as he has risen through the ranks, and I look forward to seeing him continue to build upon the strong history of Richardson’s Fire Department.”

Poovey is a Certified Fire Executive by the Texas Fire Chief’s Association, completed the Fire Service Chief Executive Officer Program at Texas A&M University, is a hazardous materials incident commander, paramedic, level 3 instructor, Fire Officer IV and has served as the president of the Dallas County Fire Chiefs Association, Board Member of the Paramedic Advisory Board for Richland College and UT Southwestern and is a Medical Incident Support Team Member and Task Force Leader for the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force.

Poovey joined the Richardson Fire Department in May 1993 as a Firefighter and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1999, Fire Captain in 2001, Battalion Chief in 2009 and has served as the Assistant Chief of Operations since January of this year.

“I’m extremely proud to have this opportunity to serve the Richardson Fire Department in this capacity,” said Poovey. “The City of Richardson and our ISO Class 1 rated fire department have a long history of success and I am excited to add to Richardson’s vision and continue our excellence in service to the community.”

Poovey’s selection comes after a four month search to fill the position that has been vacant since Richardson’s former Fire Chief retired Aug. 31. As Richardson’s Fire Chief, Poovey will oversee a department that provides full service emergency response with fire suppression, emergency medical service, specialized/technical rescue, hazardous materials response and fire prevention and has more than 160 fire and rescue personnel.

About the City of Richardson
With nearly 100,000 residents, the City of Richardson is widely recognized for its commitment to excellence, its rich history and its bright future, all of which make Richardson a smart choice for residents and businesses. Known globally for its high-tech business leadership, the City of Richardson also offers a high quality of life, diverse array of neighborhoods, convenient Metroplex location, multi-modal transportation infrastructure and outstanding City services. Richardson has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top places to live and work by the national media, and the City remains dedicated to continuous improvement, as well as to the principles of open government and two-way communications with residents. To learn more, visit www.cor.net.