Gary Bradbury
Fire Chief

Fire Chief Bradbury

Chief Bradbury has been a career firefighter since 1978. He served with the U.S. Forest Service as a wildland firefighter for five years prior to moving to the municipal fire service with the City of Mesa, Arizona. During his service with the City of Mesa he promoted to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief. Chief Bradbury has served as the Chief of the Rio Verde Fire District since 2009.

Chief Bradbury is currently a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association. He has achieved higher education degrees in the following fields: Masters of Science in Organizational Management, Bachelors of Science in Business Management, Associate of Science in Fire Science, and Associate of Science in Forestry. Chief Bradbury has also holds certification as a Certified Public Manager.

Chief Bradbury and his wife Karen have lived in the Town of Fountain Hills since 1996.

Eric Merrill
Deputy Chief

Deputy Chief Merrill has been a career firefighter since 1980. He moved to Arizona in 1977 and worked in the emergency medical field completing his Paramedic training in 1980.He entered the Fire Service with Rural Metro Fire Department and worked throughout the Maricopa County service area including Sun City, Sun City West, Scottsdale and Rio Verde. Deputy Chief Merrill served and was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the United States Marine Corps. Deputy Chief Merrill has served as the Emergency Medical Services manager since the department’s establishment in 2004.

Deputy Chief Merrill is currently a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, The Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and The National Association of EMS Educators. He has achieved a Bachelors Degree in EMS /Hospital Management and holds a National Certification as a Certified Public Manager.

Deputy Chief Merrill and his wife Deana have been married for 32 years and have two grown children.

Debra Centrella
Administrative Manager

Debra Centrella

Debra Centrella joined the Rio Verde Fire District in March of 2009.  She had spent the last five years in the non-profit sector. Most recently as a Loaned Executive at the Valley of the Sun United Way where she worked with Employee Campaign Managers to plan, conduct, and finalize successful workplace campaigns that resulted in over $4,000,000.00 raised. While at the Souper Bowl of Caring, she increased group participation in Arizona from 106 to 231 groups which more than doubled the food and dollar donations to the hunger related charities in our local communities.  

Previously Debra spent 22 years in sales, administration, management, and manufacturing in the Fashion Industry.  During that time she was employed by Federated Department Stores and the held positions of Assistant Buyer, Department Manager, and Store Administrator.  At the California Apparel Mart she was a Designer Representative for several Better Designer manufacturers and later owned and operated a Better Dress manufacturing firm.

Since joining the Rio Verde Fire District Debra has completed her certification from the Arizona Fire District Association, is certified as a Child Safety Seat Technician, and CPR Instructor.  She is currently serving as the Professional Development Committee Chairperson for the Arizona Fire Service Administrative Professionals.

Debra has lived in Fountain Hills since 1995 with her husband Nick and daughter Mia.