Retired Fire Chief Dan Newburn dies

Newburn died “at home surrounded by family,” according to a post on the TFD’s Facebook page.

Firefighters will honor Newburn during this year’s Firefighter Memorial Ceremony on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. at the downtown main station, 300 S. Fire Central Place.

“Fire Chief Dan Newburn had the respect and support of those under his command and will be greatly missed by the members of the Tucson Fire Department,” said Fire Capt. Christopher Jurvig.

Newburn began his career with Tucson Fire on Feb. 4, 1974, and by 1983 he served as a fire inspector. Two years later, he was the assistant public information officer for the department.

That same year, the department honored him as its Firefighter of the Year.

According to an Arizona Daily Star article, during the department’s ceremony, in which Fire Chief Richard Moreno gave Newburn kudos for working above and beyond the job’s duties, Newburn smiled and bowed his head slightly and said: “My own personal motto is: ‘Nobody does it better than the Tucson Fire Department.’ ”

He was recognized for his role in the growth of the “Learn Not to Burn” program, which taught fire prevention to students. Moreno credited Newburn for making it “one of the most successful programs in the country.”

Newburn also began a fire safety program for the developmentally disabled.

In 1989, Newburn was promoted to the rank of captain, and four years later he advanced to battalion chief. In 1994, he became assistant chief.

In 2001, Newburn was named fire chief — beating out five other candidates.

He “exhibited great leadership while serving in that capacity until his retirement” in 2008, Jurvig recalled.

In a 2008 interview with the Star, Newburn said that among his accomplishments were upgrading the department’s vehicles and safety equipment, building four new fire stations and improving education and outreach programs.

Newburn also was proud of managing the department through attrition and retirement programs in which 30 percent of the workforce left the department.

He navigated the department through controversies, including allegations of discrimination and harassment leveled against the department by a female employee, a dispute with the union on how to fill vacant inspector posts, and the disciplining of eight firefighters who pulled sexually inappropriate pranks on recruits.

Newburn’s family planned a private service.