City Council Decides Fate of Fire Chief Monday

Paige Day, the first female fire chief in Smyrna’s history, could be fired on Monday night by the city council.

City officials have remained quiet on the specific reason Day was relieved of duty in July, citing personnel reasons. The city has announced that a hearing determining whether or not Day’s employment can be terminated is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 at Smyrna City Hall.

Day was hired in December, 2013 following the resignation of former fire chief Jason Lanyon amid an internal investigation for violations of city policy. Day was chosen from a field of 50 applicants to serve as the city’s fire chief. She served as the assistant fire chief in Missouri City, TX prior to being chosen as Smyrna’s fire chief.

Before her appointment as Missouri City’s assistant fire chief, Day had spent time as a hazard mitigation specialist with the federal government and had served as the battalion chief with the Raytheon Company’s fire department in Tucson, AZ.

Day rose through the ranks over a 15 year career in the fire service, making it from a rookie EMT in 1998 to captain in 2005 and assistant chief in 2011. She is also a published author; her book “Fading Scars” was published in 2010 and deals with traumatic brain injury and how it has affected her family. She was called a “ unique and driven leader” by Councilman Ron Fennel when she was first hired.

Roy Acree, who served as Acting Fire Chief between Lanyon’s resignation and Day’s hiring, has again assumed the role.