11-16-22 Jay retiring

Rio Verde Fire Chief Ducote Retiring

Rio Verde Fire Chief Jay Ducote will be retiring at the end of the year after 6 ½ years of service. Chief Ducote has been in the valley fire service for over 39 years. Jay came to Rio Verde Fire District in May of 2016 after Chief Gary Bradbury retired. Jay started his career in 1983 with the Glendale Fire Department where he moved up the ranks to division chief. In 2005 the City of Scottsdale hired Chief Ducote to assist in the startup of the new Scottsdale Fire Department after Rural Metro canceled their contract with the city. “It’s been a great 6 plus years here in Rio Verde” Chief Ducote says. “ We have an amazing residents, Fire board and outstanding fire crews and staff who are dedicated to the community. In his time in Rio Verde Chief Ducote and his staff were able to educate the residents on the importance of a new fire station for the fast growing community. Residents passed a 5 million dollar bond for the station that opened in October 2022. Chief Ducote and his team were also voted into the Regional Automatic Aid consortium of fire departments here in the valley. During COVID the RVFD in partnership with Verde Cares, Church of the Verdes and Albertsons organized two COVID vaccination PODS at the Church of the Verdes.

Deputy Chief Scott Krushak will be moving into the Fire Chief role when Chief Ducote retires. Scott joined the Rio Verde Fire District in June of 2021 after nearly 38 years with the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD). Scott started with the Phoenix Fire in 1980 as a Firefighter and completed his career with the department as an Assistant Fire Chief. During that time, he was also appointed to the City Manager’s Office where he spent five years as the City of Phoenix Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. During his time as an Assistant Fire Chief Scott was responsible for the Fire Training Academy, Special Operations Section, EMS, Fire Fleet, Facilities and Commodities. Scott was also a 20+ year member of AZ Task Force One – the PFD’s Federal Urban Search and Rescue team where he held the positions of Search Team Manager and Task Force Leader. He has been a Command Staff member of FEMA’s Federal Incident Support Team and the Incident Commander for the City of Phoenix Incident Management Team. Rio Verde has conducted a Deputy Chiefs test for the open Deputy Chief position. More information on that hiring is forthcoming.

Pictured: Left- Fire Chief Jay Ducote, Right- Deputy Chief Scott Krushak