Rural/Metro announced that Fountain Hills Fire Chief Scott LaGreca is retiring after more than 40 years as a fire service professional.

A statement from Rural/Metro Spokesman Colin Williams said no date has been specified for LaGreca’s retirement.

In the interim, Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Randy Roberts has been named acting fire chief, and Capt. Todd Brunin has been named as acting assistant chief.

“Scott LaGreca is been a dedicated public servant in Fountain Hills for over 17 years,” Williams said.

“During this significant time in the town’s history, his leadership, vision and commitment to customer service have been unmatched.

“Recently, Chief LaGreca decided to retire from his role as fire chief. Although no date has been set for his retirement, Rural/Metro Fire Department is working closely with Chief LaGreca, and his team, on developing a seamless, customer service-driven plan for the future of the Fountain Hills Fire Department.”

A comment from LaGreca himself helped clarify the issue as he stated he is currently on medical leave and will be retiring around the end of August. That comment was released through Roberts.

There is speculation in the community regarding LaGreca’s health, and The Times has been told that the cancer he battled several years ago had returned.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh told The Times, “Fire Chief Scott LaGreca’s retirement is a poignant moment for me, as mayor, and for the people of Fountain Hills.

“Scott could resolve all problems, big and small, with sound reasoning and his ever-present smile.

“Scott was a pleasure to work with and I will sorely miss his extensive expertise, leadership and good company.”

Long career

LaGreca was hired by the Fountain Hills Fire District as assistant chief and fire marshal in 1996. He began work almost exactly 17 years ago.

He retired after 25 years with the Chicago Fire Department where he had served as a firefighter and worked his way up through the ranks as a lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, director of media affairs and executive assistant to a deputy fire commissioner.

LaGreca was named interim chief in Fountain Hills in 2000 and served as assistant to Rural/Metro’s chief for its Maricopa County operations. He was named chief in Fountain Hills in 2005 and has served here since.

LaGreca received his bachelor’s degree in 1978 at Southern Illinois and a master’s degree in technology from Arizona State in 2004.

He received executive fire officer certification from the National Fire Academy in 1987 and was commissioned as a Chief Fire Officer in 2006.

He was a fire program advisory board representative with Arizona State and an adjunct professor at the university.

LaGreca is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and served as the town’s emergency management coordinator.

Roberts said it has been a great pleasure to work with LaGreca, noting that he considers LaGreca very competent, very experienced and a “fantastic” leader.

“Scott basically built the Fountain Hills Fire Department as we know it today,” Roberts said.

“The department is known for its strong customer service, and Scott deserves the credit for that.”

Roberts noted that he comes from the Phoenix Fire Department, considered by many as a progressive department, while Chicago where LaGreca worked has a more traditional philosophy.

This represents a potential clash of fire service cultures that could make things very difficult, according to Roberts.

“His open mindedness and high degree of professionalism make that work,” Roberts said.

LaGreca relied heavily on the six captains in Fountain Hills, most of whom have worked here much of LaGreca’s tenure.

“He gave them a lot of responsibility and input on how things are done,” Roberts said. “No one wants to disappoint him.”

Kavanagh concluded, “The Fountain Hills Fire Department will forever bear the imprint of Chief Scott LaGreca, who was the most influential person in its development.

“And the people of Fountain Hills will always bear a great sense of gratitude to Scott for all he has done to protect and serve us.”