Fire Studies Columnist, Philly Deputy Chief Jim Smith Passes Away

Editor's note: See visitation, memorial mass details at the end.

Longtime Firehouse columnist James P. Smith Sr. passed away Tuesday at the age of 75.

Smith retired as a deputy chief with the Philadelphia Fire Department in 2007, after a 41-year career.

A Firehouse contributing editor, he began authoring the Fire Studies column in 1988, covering topics from strategy and tactics to leadership and incident command. Smith's writings came from a combination of his life experiences in Philadelphia, coupled with information learned from friends and reports that he read.

In the February 2022 issue, Smith wrote his last column, titled "A Wealth of Knowledge Garnered and Shared."

In that piece, he not only reflected on his 34 years of writing for Firehouse, but shared insight from the years he climbed through the ranks with the Philadelphia Fire Department, and his teachings, including with the National Fire Academy.

"I have garnered a wealth of experience and knowledge—much of which I learned the hard way—that I want to share...there is so much information that I want to share that I decided that writing a book seemed like the best path. It was a lot of work and time, but it’s something that I am proud of, and, hopefully, it will be read and will keep firefighters safe."

Over the years, Smith authored more than 200 articles for Firehouse and other publications, and wrote the book Strategic and Tactical Considerations on the Fireground.

"The fire service lost a legend Tuesday," said Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Peter Matthews. "When Jim told us he was sick and planning to wrap his writing career, I knew the magazine would face a void that could never be filled. Jim's experiences rival few others in what he learned while working the Philadelphia streets in the 1960s and later."

Smith retired after a 41-year with the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Smith was also known for his time teaching incident command at the National Fire Academy and Emergency Management Institute, where he led close to 400 classes, impacting firefighters from around the country.

"I remember it to be commonplace for Dad to leave for the National Fire Academy for a week at a time. Many of the courses spanned two weeks, but he would make the two-and-a-half-hour drive home for the weekend," his son, Jim Smith, Jr., wrote in an article in the February issue of Firehouse. "I still remember carrying milk crates of materials out to his truck ahead of his trip. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was watching a future hall of famer. Dad never half-assed anything. He was all in whenever he took on a task.”

In 2016, Smith was inducted into the Firehouse Hall of Fame during the conference in Nashville, TN.

The class of 2016 included Firehouse Founder Dennis Smith, who passed away in January this year, along with the late Rich Adams, and retired FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief John Norman.

At the event, Smith said, “Firehouse opened a lot of doors for me and I have made a lot of friends.”

"Dad was a legend and hall of famer in the fire service," Jim Jr. said. "However, he was an even better person. As much as he meant to the fire service, he played a bigger role in the lives of his family. His heart was as big and open as his mustache was prominent. We will certainly miss him every day."

Before his passing, a group organized a drive-by celebration to honor Smith for his 55 years of dedication to the fire service that was to be held March 6.

Jim Jr. shared that more than 100 apparatus and hundreds of people were expected to take part.

Smith is survived by his wife, Pat, of 54 years, his daughter Colleen and son, Jim Jr, who is the fire chief in Ocean City, NJ. He leaves behind five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Fire service remembers Jim

As firefighters and medics we often observe acts of bravery. Courage can be defined in many ways. It is a personal commitment to prepare for achieving peak performance. Sometimes in administrative directions and at others times in actions at an emergency scene.

Over the last four months, from a bleacher seat, I witnessed Firehouse Magazine long-time author Jim Smith fight through illness. In the Fall 2021, Jim was asked to conduct an in-depth investigative report of a devastating fireground line-of-duty-death. During that period of time he was diagnosed with cancer.

Working through radiation, chemo, and an infection that impacted his breathing; he never "backed-away" from a commitment to analyze activities from that fatal fire. Tirelessly, he reviewed audio tapes, read interviews, checked training records, viewed helmet-cam video in an effort to uncover specific circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.

It was not an easy task to dissect operational policies, examine training records and objectively evaluate implementation steps while sick. Jim Smith intent was not to "point fingers" for mistakes or "blame" commanders for errors. His sole goal was to increase operational proficiency and reduce future risk to first responders.

In January, with failing health, he generated e-mails and participated in phone calls to "put the pieces of the puzzle" together for an sensible improvement plan for the department. In February he followed up with insight and input. On March 1, he passed away demonstrating courage and commitment.

Cancer is a cruel and devastating disease. Unfortunately, a cure is not in the foreseeable future. Jim's life-long message is simple and straightforward. Safety is our top priority with tiered responsibility at the task, supervision, and management levels. Protect yourself ! Wear your respiratory protection, keep your bunker gear clean and never forget your commitment to family, friends and fire service buddies. For me the lyrics from the 2020 American Music Awards top song is most appropriate. Let's "keep those tears for another day".

Today we must begin to "pave a path forward" for health and wellness issues. Your courage will be noticed and a lasting tribute to Jim Smith.

- Bill Shouldis, Deputy Chief (ret.) Philadelphia Fire Department, National Fire Academy Instructor

Several members of the fire service shared their stories and memories about Smith. If you would like to share yours, please email it to: [email protected].

During my entire 30-year journey in the fire-EMS business, Jim Smith has been a constant presence through his writing, teaching, and positive example. Even before I was certified as a new firefighter back in 1992, I vividly remember reading Chief Smith’s columns in Firehouse magazine. While I never dreamed that I would also end up in Philadelphia, there is no question that he was one of the main reasons I chose firefighting and EMS as my initial career path. Here in the Philadelphia Fire Department, Deputy Chief Smith is—quite simply—a legend; not just for his technical expertise, but for his inclusive leadership and mentoring over the years. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and fire service colleagues, as we prepare to help honor his dedicated service to the City of Philadelphia.

- Adam Thiel, Fire Commissioner, Philadelphia Fire Department

As a newly promoted Captain, I floated in Chief's Smith's second division for about a year waiting on a permanent assignment. As always, he gave me lessons and pointers to help me grow into my new position as he did for every firefighter he encountered. One Sunday morning I was doing my acting chief training at division headquarters. Chief Smith had a minor dilemma — he got a call about a captain's vacancy in the first division. As he hung up the phone he sighed and said, "they need a captain for Engine 20." As I looked around it dawned on me that I was the only captain in the room... everyone was cracking up. I looked at the chief and said something to the effect of "So when do I report to 20s?”

Engine 20 is in the heart of Chinatown in Philly's high-rise district. I had spent time as a lieutenant “downtown” and wasn’t looking forward to going back having already turned down a spot in another downtown company. But I suspected my luck may soon run out and I may not get a “choice” in the matter. After the meeting I was having some second thoughts about this new assignment, and I told Chief Smith that I really didn't know much about high-rise buildings and that I was glad I survived my first go around in town. He said, "Denny, that's why you need to go back, to learn". At the time he knew I was going to school, and I suspect that's what he saw in me. If Chief Smith asked you to do something, you knew there was a good reason for it, and you did it. So, I reported to Engine 20 and got to work learning as much as I could about high rise operations.

When people think of Deputy Chief James Smith of the Philadelphia Fire Department they think of a "fireman's fireman". In that they are entirely correct, there are none better. But to me, he will always be a scholar, a teacher, a high-priest of the discipline, an inspiration to keep your head in the books and endeavor to perfect your craft. When I came into this job in 1992, he was already a legend, and one of very few people with an advanced degree. Chief Smith was what we call today a "pracademic" a rare combination of academics as well as practical experience, excellence, and expertise. A true double threat, a poet warrior so to speak. His column in Firehouse, a staple for so many years is a testament to that side of his accomplishment and the importance he put on education and teaching. I remember sitting in the cafeteria of our fire academy one morning thumbing through an old issue of Firehouse Magazine. I turned to Chief Smith’s column, and it was about high rise fires. I couldn’t contain my smile. Legend.

Thanks to Chief Smith I went to Chinatown and through a series of promotions spent about ten years downtown learning everything I could about high-rise buildings and incidents. And thanks to Chief Smith I still have my head in the books, still learning about this job twenty years after he sent a young Captain on a professional odyssey. Rest in peace Chief. Thank you for the inspiration. Godspeed.

- Dennis Merrigan MS, Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal, Philadelphia Fire Department

"I had the opportunity to take the National Fire Academy Fire Command Operations class with him as my instructor. He was a wealth of knowledge and a great officer to learn from. His ability to get his message across was never lost on anyone; no matter where you hailed from, large metropolitan department or local station in a smaller town, he shared all he had with anyone who came to him. He will be remembered as a consummate professional, a mentor, and a leader who brought the fire service where it is today.

- Michael Daley, Lieutenant, Monroe Township, NJ, Fire District #3

Sadly, the passing of Deputy Chief Jim Smith leaves another empty chair at the Firehouse table, and he will be missed. Coming so quickly on the heels of the loss of our founder Dennis Smith, it is even more poignant. Our correspondents, contributing editors, and editor-in-chief come from diverse fire service backgrounds that help make up a team. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses, much like our readers who occupy real brick and mortar firehouses worldwide.

Jim’s forte was strategy and tactics, and he shared his experiences learned from the streets of Philadelphia not only in our magazine, but through his teachings at the National Fire Academy and through numerous publications. It’s almost impossible to gauge how many he reached both directly, or indirectly through his works. May he rest in peace.

- Barry Furey, Firehouse Contributing Editor

I met Philadelphia Deputy Chief Jim Smith at the National Fire Academy in the 1980s. We were team instructors on a course called “Command and Control of Major Fire Operations.” We were two rare chief officer instructors from the East Coast, me from New York City Fire and Jim from Philadelphia Fire. When we both would show our fire slides of burning buildings that were vacant, partially collapsed, unoccupied, leaning over precariously, and smoke charred, we immediately bonded and joked how they looked very similar.

Some firefighters from modern cities at the fire academy from the West Coast and the sunbelt commented they could not relate to our vacant and half demolished building fire slides. It was during the ”War Years” of the East coast when people were fleeing from communities like ours to escape the crime of the northeast. We laughed and told the firefighters wait a few years and their communities will look like our slides. We spent many nights down at the pub lecturing wide eyed new firefighters about our war stories. I could not continue to lecture at the fire academy but Jim Smith became the most popular lecturer and I called him our ‘Star” east coast fire chief everyone wanted to see lecture at the National Fire Academy.

- Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief (ret.), FDNY

Visitation at The Godfrey Funeral Home of Palermo
March 11 - 9:00 - 11:00 am
The Godfrey Funeral Home Of Palermo
644 South Shore Road
Palermo, NJ

Visitation at Our Lady of Calvary Church
March 11 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. and March12, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Our Lady Of Calvary Catholic Church
11024 Knights Road
Philadelphia

Memorial Mass at Our Lady of Calvary Church
March 12 - 11 a.m.
Our Lady Of Calvary Catholic Church
11024 Knights Road
Philadelphia