By Alex Riggins
The Times-News
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Ron Clark was 26 when he started with the Twin Falls Fire Department in 1976. In the 40 years since, he’s worked his way up from firefighter to driver to captain to battalion chief, and on May 1, 1998, he became fire chief, a position he’s held ever since.
On July 29, after more than 40 years with the department, Clark will retire.
“I’m 66, I’ve put in 40 years, and I think I’m ready,” Clark said Thursday. “Forty years is a long time, it’s enough. I’m at peace.”
Born in Missouri, Clark and his family moved to Twin Falls County before he started school and he’s been here ever since. He went to first and second grade in Buhl before his family moved to Filer. He graduated from Filer High School, attended the College of Southern Idaho and started with the fire department Feb. 1, 1976.
“I started on what you might call the bottom rung of the ladder,” Clark said. “In the 40 years since, I’ve held about every position but fire marshal.”
A lot has changed in the 40 years since Clark joined the department, he said, but one thing that’s been consistent is the quality of the department’s employees.
“Things naturally progress over time,” Clark said. “But in that span of time, we’ve had an excellent fire department. I never wanted to work for another department, and I don’t plan to retire and go work anywhere else.”
Clark also expressed appreciation for past and present city leadership including city managers, city councils and other city departments.
“I applaud the city councils over the years. They’ve been very supportive, and I’ve really appreciated that,” Clark said. “There’s never been fights. They’ve been very supportive from a financial standpoint. That’s a big deal.”
The fire chief also thanked the city’s residents and said he’s tried to keep the department fully staffed and equipped while making financially sound decisions.
“We’ve tried to be frugal with the budget,” Clark said. “I’m acutely aware we’re funded 100-percent by tax-payer dollars.”
So what’s next for Clark and the city?
Twin Falls posted the job opening on its website Wednesday with an advertised annual salary of $85,410 to $123,006 and is accepting applications until June 3. The next chief needs a bachelor’s degree in fire science, public administration or a related field, 10 years of experience in various aspects of fire service and five years of experience at an executive or command level.
“It’s open to anyone outside or inside the department,” city spokesman Joshua Palmer said.
As for Clark, he has immediate plans but nothing scheduled for the long term.
“In retirement, I’ll do anything I want, up to and including nothing,” Clark said with a chuckle.
But first, he has a trip to Alaska planned with his two adult daughters. A “daddy-daughter excursion,” he called it.
“They’ve both been all over the world, but one place they’ve never been is Alaska,” Clark said.
After that, he’ll fish, golf and spend time with his 7-year-old grandson “doing what I can to help him be a good citizen.”
All the while he’ll look back fondly on his time serving and protecting Twin Falls.
“I had an incredible career,” Clark said. “I worked with incredible people, and I couldn’t ask for a better employer than the city of Twin Falls. They owe me nothing, I owe them everything.”
Copyright 2016 The Times-News