Snowflake Fire Chief Pat Hancock has tendered his resignation, effective May 11. His last day was April 3, and he is taking vacation until the effective date.
Hancock began his employment with the Town of Snowflake on Dec. 8, 1994, and was hired as fire chief in July 2003 after serving four months as interim chief.
“Three years ago we had an issue, so we got a committee to move forward with fire service,” said Hancock. “It was positive, with a non-biased committee (looking into forming a fire district).”
The Snowflake Committee met for approximately a year before Taylor joined the discussion to consider asking voters to approve a fire district that would include Snowflake, Taylor and Shumway.
Since then an Administrative Committee has put together an intergovernmental agreement rather than move to form a fire district. There will be a public hearing on the issue this month and the agreement will go to the town councils for approval.
“The committee is going in the right direction, and wants to sign an IGA with Taylor,” said Hancock, noting that the agreement would create two separate departments, one administration and one board.
“Paul (Watson, Snowflake town manager) came to the fire guys and told us they are putting out to bid the fire chief position,” said Hancock. He noted that he has heard rumblings coming from citizens of Taylor in opposition to him being fire chief. He has an opportunity to do something different and make better money, so he has resigned as fire chief.
Hancock said that with his resignation they can hire someone from the outside who will start with a clean slate. “It will be much easier for the communities to move forward, and quicker, with my resignation,” he said.
“I’m happy I’m leaving on my own terms. Life is wonderful,” said Hancock.
He has taken a position working in the oil fields in North Dakota. After some training, he will be a truck boss/safety supervisor. “It’s another avenue and another means to take care of my family, and that’s why I’m going,” said Hancock.
Hancock and his team, including Dale Call and Steve Turley, have secured more than $1 million in grants for the departments, which purchased the water tender and the newest truck, a type 3 engine. Grant funding also purchased wildland fire gear and extraction equipment among other items.
Hancock served on the Northeastern Arizona Fire Chief Association, and through it, the Statewide Mutual Aid Committee for the State Fire Marshal. He served on the Statewide Communications Commission for Governor Jan Brewer, the Northern Homeland Security Committee, the Regional Advisory Committee for Homeland Security for Northern Arizona, the Volunteer Pension and Retirement Board, where he was chairman, the Local Emergency Preparedness Committee, the Citizen Core Council, a committee organized through Navajo County that received Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) grants, the Citizens Corporation Council for Navajo County, where he served as chairman on two occasions, the Pioneer Days Committee, Events Committees and the Community Values Committee.
With Call and Turley, Hancock wrote the Snowflake Fire Department policy and procedure manual.
“I love the communities of Snowflake and Taylor,” said Hancock, noting that he has been responding to fires in both communities for most of 20 years, and it has been an honor to serve as the chief of the Snowflake Fire Department.
A dinner was held to honor Snowflake Fire Chief Pat Hancock (front) for his 20 years of service to the Town of Snowflake. Congratulating him are (back row, left to right) Dale Call, Delton Woodside, Tim Turley, David Call and Steve Turley.
