After three and a half decades of putting out fires, Brian Riley has doused his last flame, unless, of course, his barbecue grill happens to catch on fire.
Riley retired recently as Colleyville’s fire chief. He led that department for the past five years, coming there after three decades in Arlington that saw him rise to the rank of assistant chief.
A retirement ceremony was held for Riley recently. At the event, he spoke of how much it meant to be a firefighter, saying that serving others is the best job there is.
As a retirement gift, his fellow firefighters in the department gave him a watch with the engraving “Still the best job there is” on the back, because he is known for having said that phrase so often.
Highlights from Riley’s time in Colleyville include:
*Developing and instituting a smoke detector program that provides smoke detectors to residents who cannot afford them or have difficulty installing them.
*Developing a fire vehicle and equipment replacement strategy, which saved the City money.
*He oversaw the purchase of the newest fire engine, and added a second ambulance to cut down on costs associated with using ambulances from surrounding cities.
*He implemented a new training program and continuing education training for the department.
“We have been very fortunate to have Chief Riley serve as chief of the Colleyville Fire Department for the last five years,” Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton said. “He has been a strong leader and has ensured that the Colleyville Fire Department is one of the best in the Metroplex.
“With nearly 40 years of experience as a firefighter dedicated to serving others, Chief Riley has strived to make our community safer and better prepared for those emergencies that can affect us all.”
Battalion Chief Mark Cantrell is serving as the interim chief as the city moves to hire a new chief. – Rick Mauch