Rural/Metro Fire Department announced last week Randy Roberts has been named to replace the late Scott LaGreca as fire chief for Fountain Hills.

Roberts said he is pleased to have this opportunity to serve the community, although circumstances are difficult.

“We have been going through some tough times recently with the loss of our fire chief,” Roberts said.

“I am humbled to be able to honor his legacy by continuing to build and improve the Fountain Hills Rural/Metro Fire Department with a staff that is very motivated, team oriented and customer-service focused.

“I am grateful to the town to have placed this trust in me.”

Roberts retired after 29 years with the Phoenix Fire Department and was hired in 2007 as assistant fire chief/fire marshal for Rural/Metro in Fountain Hills.

He has been a Fountain Hills resident since 1987.

In a letter to Rural/Metro Maricopa County Chief Ted Beam dated July 9, Town Manager Ken Buchanan asked that Roberts be named to succeed LaGreca.

Rural/Metro provided Buchanan the resumes of three candidates for the job as prescribed by its contract with the town.

“After review of the three candidates’ resumes, there is no need to proceed with the interview process,” Buchanan said.

“I recommend dispensing with that interview process should you accept my selection of (Roberts) as the Fountain Hills Fire Chief.”

In an internal memo Beam said, “Randy’s fire service history is impressive and I know he will do a great job for Rural/Metro and the Town of Fountain Hills.

“It is clear that he has some ‘big boots to fill’ taking over for Chief Scott LaGreca.”

Roberts attained the rank of captain with Phoenix and was certified as an emergency paramedic in 1985.

During his fire service career, Roberts was also certified as a technical rescue technician. He is trained in large-scale disaster management.

A large-scale disaster would entail the use of many resources for such things as a terror attack, aircraft crash or wildland fire threatening urban development.

Roberts has also been a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urban search and rescue team in Phoenix.

In that capacity he was dispatched to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. He was staged to respond to New York City following 9-11, but that deployment was delayed and another Phoenix group was sent.

Roberts attended Phoenix College and has numerous memberships in professional groups. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association, International Fire Chiefs Association, Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and Arizona Fire Marshal’s association.

Roberts and his wife Suzy have raised three daughters in Fountain Hills. His daughters are all married living in Mesa, Philadelphia and Martinsburg, W.Va. He has 11 grandchildren.

 Rural/Metro has begun its search for someone to replace Roberts as assistant fire chief and fire marshal for Fountain Hills.

Fire Capt. Todd Brunin currently serves as interim assistant chief.

The process for this position is the same as that for chief. Rural/Metro will present the town with at least three applicants for its consideration for the job.