Baggett named chief

Jamie Baggett has been named fire chief for the Pea Ridge Fire/ EMS Department, according toMayor Jackie Crabtree. Baggett will begin his duties Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, following the Saturday, Nov.

30, retirement of Fire Chief Frank Rizzio.

Traditionally the Pea Ridge Fire Department, which was begun and maintained for years as a volunteer department, elected the fire chief. In honoring that tradition, the mayor used the election results from the fi refi ghters as one portion of his selection process.

“We’re trying to make it a smooth transition,” Crabtree said, adding that the ultimate goal for the department is to become an advanced life support ambulance service. “To be fair to the tradition, we continued the vote.”

“We hope to become ALS as soon as possible,” Crabtree said.

Baggett, a native of Rogers, graduated from Pea Ridge High School in 1995, but began working as a fi refighter before he graduated high school.

“I got asked to go to an Avoca Fire meeting with a friend,” Baggett said, adding that he enjoyed the meeting and decided to join the department. He joined the Avoca Fire Department in September 1994.

Baggett has an associate degree in safety and hazardous material response from NorthWest Arkansas Community College, is almost complete with a bachelor of science degree in Emergency Management from Arkansas Tech University, completed the Firefighters Standards course in Camden in 2000 and earned hismedical technician in 1998 through NWACC.

His full-time job is as public safety o◊cer at XNA, where he began working in 2010. Baggett is a fi refighter 2/Hazmat tech which means: “I’m the one who gets in glow suits and takes care of chemicals.” He also has his part-time 2 law enforcement certifi cation. In addition to working at XNA, he works shifts at Pea Ridge of about 100 to 120 hours per month. He began working with the Pea Ridge Fire Department in July 2011.

“I’ve always been out there. I’ve been one of those kinds who like to talk with people, to help people. I’ve always wanted to be a chief since I joined the fi re service. I want to get out there and get to know everybody,” Baggett said.

Of Pea Ridge, he said: “It’s a good group of guys … I’m glad they have faith inme to lead them. We’ve got a lot of young guys who are up and coming; I hope to lead them past me in what I do. If I can do that, then I’ve succeeded.”

Baggett said he has no plans to make changes in sta◊ng at this time. He said he plans to pursue ALS licensing and is looking at a grant to fund some of the required equipment. He said Pea Ridge still depends on its volunteers.

“First responders and volunteers are the meat and potatoes of the department,” he said. “I told the guys that last night, too,” he said referring to the weekly Fire Department meeting Monday, Nov. 25.

I’m looking forward to this position and don’t plan on letting the people of Pea Ridge down.”

He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Cameron, 10, and Braden, 5, and live in Pea Ridge.