If nothing else, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Chief Rick Barrett is committed to his job. With the City for more than 30 years, Barrett worked his way up the chain of command, at one time even rising above his father, former fire fighter Archie Cecil Smith.
“I remember when he found out I had been promoted to riding chief about 15 years ago, he joked that he was going to retire the next day,” Barrett said.
Working out of a third floor office on Julia Street, Barrett said his days are rarely the same. From attending meetings, to working on community outreach programs, to overseeing a staff of over 1,000 trained professionals, he said he usually leaves the house about 5:45 a.m. and doesn’t return for another 14 hours.
“There’s always so much going on, something new and different,” he said. “But it’s never boring and we all realize the importance of what we do.”
And with hurricane season looming large, Barrett doesn’t expect he’ll be taking a vacation anytime soon.
“What’s the main difference between my schedule on a regular day and when there’s the threat of a hurricane?” he said. “I sleep on a blowup mattress in my office.”