Trying to hold back tears, Sedona Fire District Chief Kris Kazian addressed the Governing Board one last time. 

Kazian, who had been at the district’s helm the past seven years, accepted a job in Colorado with his change of command ceremony having taken place on Thursday, Jan. 10. An article and photos from that ceremony will appear in the Wednesday, Jan. 16, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.

“It was January 2012 when I was interviewing for the job as fire chief,” he said to the board during the Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting. “I was happy where I was in the suburbs of Chicago. I saw a job opening to a place I had never been but heard was pretty amazing. I put my name in and crazier things happened — I was offered a job and started in March 2012.”

Kazian said he has vivid memories of those early days and said the best way to describe that period was like being in a hornet’s nest. He said those betting would more than likely have said he wouldn’t have lasted here more than a year. 

“Not sure if it was my youthfulness or my lack of experience but I persevered and forged ahead seeing nothing but a long career at Sedona Fire,” he said.

During his tenure Kazian worked for 15 different board members and said he had the honor of hiring many people as they started their careers as firefighters, administrators and support personnel. He said some of his favorite moments came while notifying people that they have been promoted as well as speaking at employee’s retirements.

“I have made countless friends in this community,” he said. 

“I have worked to assure SFD is involved in every applicable aspect of our community. I have also worked to represent each and every taxpayer who deserves the best and most efficient emergency services. We have an aging population that is diluted with international travelers each and every day. We have complex terrain and we have a vast area to cover.

“Board, I want you to know how hard staff and our membership works to do our best in every aspect of our job. Providing services is not something you look to do on the cheap and it is not something you want to see massive turn over or low morale in the workforce.” 

When Kazian arrived at SFD the tax levy had been cut by the previous board. While he did not speculate on their motives, he said the cuts to the district’s mil rate and the levy were not done in a manner that was “designed to be sustainable and it was not done with anything other than a desire to cut taxes.” 

“It is my opinion that while we were lucky enough to have reserves we could use to maintain your emergency services, I was hired and the pending recall placed a new Governing Board that was focused more on the services and I was able to develop a plan for sustainability,” Kazian said.

He said one of the best parts of being chief in Sedona has been the dedicated staff he’s worked with, and commended them for their focus on their job and results. He said they provide amazing services when the bell rings and those in support roles are true professionals, too. 

“I have learned so much from all of them and while we have not always seen eye to eye — we have always had respect for one another and an ability to put our differences aside and get back to work and focus on our mission,” he said. 

“I know that I was given an amazing opportunity — in some ways a chance of a lifetime. I have worked to maximize each and every opportunity. I pride my tenure to be marked by focusing on transparency, accountability and sustainability.” 

He concluded by saying, “I wish you all the success and want nothing but the best for Sedona and Sedona Fire. A heartfelt thank you to all who have been there on my journey and supported me in one way or another. I will forever be indebted.