Annapolis’ first Fire Chief Charles H. Steele, who also served in the precursor to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, died Thursday, according to the City of Annapolis.
Steele served in his role as fire chief from 1964 until retirement in 1987 and is credited with improving standards in the city that insurance companies base rates on, a press release said. He laid the foundation of career fire service in the city and reduced the average costs of fires by increasing staffing, fire prevention, and training programs for all personnel, according to the release.
In conjunction with the City Council, he also set up the current Retirement Plan for Public Safety.
“Chief Steele brought Annapolis into the modern era,” Annapolis Fire Chief Doug Remaley said in a statement. “He was not only accomplished in the fire service, but he was also a devoted husband, father and community servant. He will be greatly missed.”
He was predeceased by his wife, Diane, and leaves behind two daughters and sons-in-law and two grandchildren. His daughter Jeanne works for the Annapolis Fire Department as the Fire Administrative Specialist.
Steele started working for the City of Annapolis as a volunteer firefighter with Rescue Hose Company No. 1 in 1949 when he was 16 years old, the release said. There, he worked his way to the rank of captain.
He graduated from Annapolis High School and served in the Navy. He got a degree in fire protection technology from Oklahoma State University and was hired by the Anne Arundel County Fire Prevention Bureau, which later became the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, as a deputy chief working on fire investigation and prevention.
Then Annapolis Mayor Joseph Griscom appointed Steele as the first career fire chief in the city, where he oversaw the progression of the career fire service. Before he retired as chief, the city’s rating that insurance rates, also known as a “fire score,” are based on improved from a Class 7 to a Class 3, city officials said. The Insurance Services Office rating rates how well protected a community is by the local fire department on a scale of 1 to 10.
It took Annapolis another 30 years to move to Class 1, the City’s current rating, according to the city’s press release.
He worked with R. Adams Cowley, a pioneer in trauma treatment, as well as with area physicians and hospitals to pioneer the Emergency Medical Services for the City of Annapolis.
He had served on the Board of Directors for the National Fire Protection Association, where he wrote standards that are still in use today nationwide. At one time he was also on the Board of the Anne Arundel General Hospital, now known as Anne Arundel Medical Center. After he retired from the fire department he worked as the Clerk of Works at the hospital as they built the Anne Arundel Medical Center complex.
As a member of the Lions Club and past president, he worked hard in fundraising efforts.
Mayor Gavin Buckley said the city is grateful for creating the foundation of service and expertise the Annapolis Fire Department has now. He asked residents keep Steele’s family and friends in their thoughts.
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