Smackover fire chief will ‘pass the torch’

SMACKOVER — Ronnie Thomasson remembers exactly where he was when he became Smackover fire chief in 1993 - he was fighting a fire. But as of Jan. 1, he is retiring from the position after serving 38 years with the Fire Department.

He recalled that on his first day as fire chief, Sandyland Baptist Church had been struck by lightning, and firefighters were unsuccessfully fighting the fire as the church burned to the ground.

Fire Chief Bud Poole, who had served in that position for 10 years, had already set his retirement date and Thomasson had been named as his replacement. The switch occurred the night of the church fire.

“At midnight, he turned to me and said, ‘Chief Thomasson, it’s all yours. I’m going home,’” Thomasson recalled.

He said Poole stayed at the scene until the fire was contained, however.

Thomasson, an electrician by trade for the past 40 years, said he became a firefighter in 1972 at the urging of another Smackover firefighter. Thomasson said since many fires are caused by electrical problems, he decided that he could contribute his electrical knowledge to the department.

There were about 15 firefighters when he joined the department, which has remained all volunteer through the years. There are now about 20 firefighters, and Thomasson said he is aided by two assistant chiefs, Jim Jameson and Mark Corley.

In 1972, the Fire Department had a new Boardman 500-gallon tanker and a 1948 Ford. The Boardman is still around, and the department acquired a 1,000-gallon tanker truck in 2003. Those trucks are part of a contingent of three pumpers, one tanker and one rescue unit.

Of his future plans, Thomasson simply said, “I’ll still be around. I’m 61 years old. It’s time to pass the torch.”

He plans to spend retirement at home with his wife, Doy, who retired as a Smackover kindergarten teacher about six years ago after 28 years in the school system.