City of Allen Fire Chief Bill Hawley submitted his resignation effective July 20. He has served as the city’s fire chief since 2002. Under his leadership, the department has become nationally recognized for training practices and advanced medical protocols.
Hawley said, “It’s been a distinct honor and privilege to serve Allen as fire chief. Through teamwork and tireless dedication to continuous improvement, the Allen Fire Department is now an industry leader. The talented women and men of the department will guide the organization to an even brighter future.”
After 16 years of service to Allen and more than 30 years of experience in fire department operations, Hawley is leaving to pursue other interests. While in Allen, he facilitated the construction for a new Fire Station 2 and the addition of Fire Station 5, one of the first fire stations in the U.S. to meet Platinum LEED standards for sustainability. Recently, he has been overseeing proposed renovations for Central Fire Station as approved by voters in the 2016 bond election.
Hawley has implemented many service improvements over the years including emergency medical dispatching, computer assisted dispatch, video-based training technology, and the use of medical manikins for simulated paramedic training. In addition, Hawley has been instrumental in selecting medical directors that have worked with the department to implement advance medical protocols. These protocols provide more immediate life-sustaining measures for patients prior to arrival and treatment by emergency room personnel.
City Manager Peter Vargas said, “Bill has done a fantastic job at building our fire department into a world-class operation. He will be missed.”