Tyler announces retirement
SANDPOINT — After 32 years with the Sandpoint Fire Department, Chief Robert Tyler is hanging up his turnouts.
City Clerk Maree Peck accepted Tyler’s letter of resignation Wednesday, clearing the way for the veteran firefighter to retire effective May 31. The announcement marks the end of a long career in local emergency response, during which the department experienced substantial growth and change.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of Sandpoint,” Tyler said. “I’m very grateful for all the political and citizen support along the way.”
According to Tyler, he’s been contemplating retirement for about a year and a half. He and his wife have plenty of plans to keep themselves occupied once they have more personal time, including travel, home improvements, personal projects and more visits with grandchildren.
Tyler first began work under Fire Chief Wade Brown in August 1981. By 1990, he had advanced to fire apparatus engineer and then to captain in 1998. In 1994, Tyler designed and co-instructed a fire and arson investigation course curriculum for the 1994 North Idaho Fire Academy while serving as a training officer for the local department. Shortly after the promotion, he was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the fire department following Fire Chief Bob Wright’s retirement until a new chief was approved.
Sandpoint Mayor Paul Graves appointed Tyler to take over the department as the official fire chief effective on July 19, 2000. It wasn’t long into his job as chief that the Sept. 11 attacks dramatically changed the way Sandpoint Fire Department and every other fire department in the country operated. Tyler oversaw the dramatic expansions that took place over the next decade, including new training procedures, rescue maneuvers and more.
When Tyler first started as a firefighter, the Sandpoint Fire Department had six paid personnel, about 25 volunteers and made 150 calls a year. Today, the number of career firefighters has expanded to nine with consistent support from around 15 steady volunteers. Meanwhile, the department conducts 1,170 runs annually. Department firefighters are now trained in an impressive variety of disciplines and have the skills necessary to tackle confined spaces, water incidents, rope rescues, hazardous material situations and more.
Over the course of three decades, Tyler has served under nine Sandpoint mayors. His professional affiliations include the International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Fighters and the Sagle Fire District Commissioner.
Despite all the accomplishments in his time with the department, Tyler is hesitant to take any credit. He views the fire department as fundamentally a team effort reliant on contributions from each individual.
“I look at it in terms of what the department has accomplished — not just me,” he said.