Dean Warren Smith

Dean Warren Smith died peacefully on September 11, 2025 at the HopeWest Hospice Center in Grand Junction, CO at the age of 85.

Dean was born on December 15, 1939 in Denver, CO to Clarence and Mabel Smith, and was the youngest of three children. He graduated in 1957 from Arvada High School, Arvada, CO. In 1958, Dean enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed at Buckley Field in Denver and then at the Anacostia Naval Air Station in D.C. He served proudly and was discharged from active duty in 1961 and from the Naval reserves in 1963.

Dean was a dedicated fire service professional for over 44 years. He began his career as a firefighter with the Arvada Volunteer Fire Department in 1965. Then, in 1969, he became the district's first paid Manager and continued in this role until he retired on January 5, 1985. While at the Arvada Protection Fire District, Dean earned Associate Degrees in Fire Science Technology and Criminal Justice from Community College of Denver. Dean then completed his Bachelors of Science in Technical Management in 1984 from Regis College, Denver.

Also during this time, Dean lobbied for eight years for the Colorado State Fire Fighter's Association and he served four years as the President of the Joint Council of Colorado Fire Services. He completed further education in Executive Development through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. Dean also consulted for several volunteer fire departments on matters of pensions and special district operations and was a member of the advisory committee formed to draft pension reform legislations, which created the Colorado Fire and Police Pension Association.

On January 7, 1985, Dean became the Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Safety, a newly created division within the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The division was chartered with administering programs to minimize loss of life and property by fire including conducting assessments of fire population/risk analysis to help departments receive appropriate funding, administering certification programs, and supporting fire service statewide, particularly smaller, rural departments with education and other resources as necessary. In July of 1984, the Voluntary Firefighter Certification Program was transferred to the Division of Fire Safety. As a one man office, Dean developed the program that brought Colorado firefighters into compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

Dean served on the Congressional Fire Caucus, as a member of the Operation Urban Wildfire Task Force of the United States Fire Administration. He was a founding member of the National Fire Academy's Training Resource and Data Exchange (TRADE Group) based out of Emmitsburg, MD. He was also one of the first members of the North American Fire Training Director's Association. Dean taught at the National Fire Academy, the Colorado Fire Fighters Academy and Community College of Denver and he was also instrumental in the establishment of the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

When he retired from his position with the state, the Colorado legislature presented Dean with the flag that flew over the Colorado Capital building that day. He continued to serve the fire service community through proctoring firefighter certification exams and conducting fire sprinkler inspections across the Western Slope.

Dean also served on the town of Palisade, CO board of trustees for three years beginning in 1994 and was then elected Mayor of Palisade, serving five years before retiring at the end of 2002.

Dean enjoyed traveling in retirement, both across the US and internationally, was an avid hat collector and teller of unrepeatable jokes. He had a great laugh!

Dean is survived by his wife, Joyce, along with his three children, Sheri, Kathy and Scott (Jenny), stepchildren Russ (Lori), Roger (Joanne), Randy and Renee, 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Wayne, and sister, Arlene.

A memorial service will be held 11:00AM on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at Martin Mortuary, 550 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81505. Interment will follow at 1:00PM at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Reception to follow back at Martin Mortuary.

Dean dedicated his life to fire service. In his memory, donations to the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation are welcome. Donations may also be made to HopeWest Hospice center who provided him with such good care.

Colorado Fallen Firefighters Foundation

P.O. Box 521

Eastlake, CO 80614-0521

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=943629P3VHZKL

HopeWest Hospice

3090 North 12th Street, Unit B

Grand Junction, CO 81506

https://www.hopewestco.org/donate/