September 23, 2025  | Makenzie Kellar

Howard Smith is the man who keeps all the plates spinning at Durango Fire Protection District. Being recently promoted to Director of Fleet and Facilities, Howard is not only responsible for managing the district’s 16 different stations, but also for vehicle inspections that are crucial to keeping employees safe. From what Howard’s fellow employees have to say, he’s done an excellent job.

“Howard has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and proactive efforts in fostering a culture of safety,” said HR Director Megan Kunch. “[He] always goes above and beyond to make sure the crews are in driving apparatus that are safe, well maintained and response ready.”

With such an important responsibility and so much to manage, how does he do it?

According to Howard, it was no surprise that he ended up working with fleets. He had spent time working as a mechanic both in the military and for an over-the-road trucking company before joining the Durango Fire team. As he put it, “I’ve pretty much been a mechanic and around heavy trucks all my life.”

It was during his time at a trucking company in Kirtland, New Mexico that he saw an ad from Durango Fire Protection District as they searched for the newest addition to their team. He was hired on in 2007 and has been with them ever since.

Being at the district for such a long time is an impressive feat, and Howard had plenty of reasons to want to stick around. Not only did he appreciate the steady work that allowed him to put down roots with his family, but also the people he found himself working with. “It’s a great place to work and we’re all friends and brothers and sisters around here. We all look out for one another, and we all want each other to go home at the end of the day.”

As for safety, Howard said that was a priority that comes with the territory. “We’re in the business of saving people and making sure everybody goes home and has a productive day and there’s no injuries.” He explained that much of the job consists of checking district vehicles to make sure parts were ready for action: everything from seatbelts and airbags to tires and brakes. While the constant inspections take time, Howard’s lifelong experience makes him an ace at it.

However, with his recent promotion, Howard has learned that there’s always another part of the job to learn; namely, paperwork. Recently he has been learning the ins and outs of managing other employees, processing insurance information, and making sure that each district building is up to code. While the promotion is well-deserved, Howard admitted that there’s something bittersweet about it. “Not working out in the shop is definitely challenging for me because I’m a hands-on guy.”

Still, despite being somewhat new to the position and having a lot to learn, Howard has already made some significant safety improvements to the district. “We recently bought a man lift just here recently because I was worried about my building guy” Howard explained. While it’s one thing to conduct inspections on a ladder, doing any sort of maintenance work off one makes it easy for accidents to occur. “So I did nail down some money in the budget […] and I was able to get a lift and trailer to move it around. Now we have a good, solid work platform for him.”

Howard also managed to find room in the budget for new vehicle lifts, replacing older and outdated models so Durango Fire Protection District can safely raise and examine everything from the smallest car to their largest trucks.

Finally, Howard has pioneered the effort to get district assets regularly inspected by third-party experts. This adds an extra layer of safety by making sure that vehicles, equipment, buildings, and other assets have had an extra set of eyes verify that they’re safe for use. “That’s something I don’t believe has been done in a long time here, and I was able to get all of that done and feel good about it.”

Though Howard has managed to get quite a bit done for the district, his proudest accomplishment is also one of the most simple: no major catastrophes have happened under his watch. “No major failures is what I shoot for, and I hope I always keep that piece.”

When asked what sort of guidance he would give to others with lots of tasks to juggle in order to keep others safe, Howard explained that the key was not to sweat the small stuff. “Just try to stay on track. Don’t let everything swallow you up.” Of course, this is easier said than done, but —as Howard Smith proves—it’s always possible.