(COLORADO SPRINGS) — At the core of the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is a group of people who love to serve the city, but every group needs a strong leader.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has selected CSFD Fire Chief Randy Royal as the Career 2024 Fire Chief of the Year. Chief Royal was awarded the honor on Aug. 14 at the 2024 Fire-Rescue International Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Since 1996, the International Fire Chief of the Year award has recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief for their leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service, and contributions to the fire service on an international level.
“I’m honored to have it, but it’s definitely not what I’m striving for,” Chief Royal said. “Anything I can do to help us be better and serve our community is way more important.”
Chief Royal has been a member of CSFD since 1987, but he always knew he wanted to join the thin red line and represent the bravery and courage of firefighters who place their lives second to those they protect.
“An award like this gives me an opportunity to say that we have really good people working in this department and they make me look good,” Chief Royal said. “I can’t take the recognition, even as the Chief of our department. I’m proud to lead it, but the accolades that we get as a department and as a community for the collaboration that we’ve done is really about the people that we have.”
Chief Royal told FOX21 News the award is a privilege, but he did have a few words for those who nominated him.
“They’re evil and sneaky because I had no clue, but I thank them for taking the time and considering me to be in that position and I do hope it reflects well on our community.”
While we don’t know who nominated Chief Royal, Steve Wilch, Deputy Chief of Operations at CSFD, has worked alongside him for two decades.
“A good fire chief has to be somebody that has integrity, they have to be humble and Randy is that,” Wilch explained. “I’ve had the privilege to work under a lot of fire chiefs and see some good ones, but Randy is definitely one of the best.”
During his career, Chief Royal has been involved in many CSFD programs, including the initiation of the Tactical Emergency Medical Program, working in the early Hazmat and Tox-medic Programs, managing the Medical Division, helping develop the Awards and Recognition Program, chairing the department’s Rebranding Committee, and leading the Pandemic Taskforce.
He has been recognized over his career with numerous awards including two Medals of Distinguished Service and the Firefighter of the Year award. He is proudest for being recognized as part of the department’s efforts with the Castle West Apartment, Waldo Canyon, and Black Forest fires.
“The Castle West Fire was a huge apartment fire in 2007,” Chief Royal explained. “I was a Battalion Chief at the time and our crews did 85 ladder rescues, which is unheard of. If you go back in the last hundred years of history in the United States it’d be hard to find another building fire that had that many ladder rescues.”
As Chief Royal’s career winds down, he is thankful for his time as the leader of CSFD and is looking forward to retirement.
“It’ll be different because I’ve been doing it for so long, but there are lots of things I can do in my retirement that I am looking forward to,” Chief Royal said . “I got grandkids so when the day comes, I’ll be ready, but it’ll be bittersweet.”
While Chief Royal is not announcing his retirement yet, when the time does come, firefighters will continue to get the Royal treatment at CSFD through his son, Lt. Randy Royal. The two have worked together for the past 19 years.
