New Newton Falls chief will be the first female fire chief in Trumbull County

Staff report

NEWTON FALLS

After conducting a statewide search, the board of trustees of the Newton Falls Joint Fire District has hired Anita M. Smith to replace retiring Fire Chief Rick Bauman.

Smith apparently is the first woman to serve as fire chief in Trumbull County history, said Trumbull County historian Wendell Lauth of Bristolville.

“She’s certainly got to be the first. I don’t remember any others,” Lauth said.

The board announced her appointment after a special meeting Saturday.

She will be sworn in at next Tuesday’s board meeting, and her duties will begin officially June 1.

“It’s a great honor to be the first woman fire chief in Trumbull County,” Smith said Monday. “I’m honored and blessed to accept the position.”

The board and Smith are still finalizing her contract, including her pay rate, said Zach Svette, board chairman. The district includes Newton Falls and Newton Township.

Smith has more than 25 years of firefighting experience, including 14 years in leadership roles, Svette said.

Most recently, Smith, who grew up in the Newton Falls area, was employed as a firefighter with Pahrump Valley Fire Rescue Services in Nevada. She is now employed as a paramedic with University Hospital in Twinsburg.

Smith’s combination of technical expertise, firefighting experience, station management, leadership skills and experience made her stand out, Svette said. She assisted in the growth of a small department to three stations, and co-workers and supervisers alike praised her, Svette said.

She has a bachelor’s degree in fire and emergency management from Kaplan University and is a graduate of Southeast High School in Ravenna and Maplewood Joint Vocational School in Rootstown.

Smith will need to have her Nevada firefighting certification transferred to Ohio, so until that is completed, Donald Byrd, acting assistant chief, will be responsible for all fire emergency scenes, Svette said.

It is not known how long the transfer will take, Svette said.

Smith lives with her husband, Butch, daughter, Hannah, and mother, Virginia, in Atwater. She and her family intend to move closer to the district, Svette said.

Bauman, meanwhile, leaves after nearly 16 years as chief and 43 years as a firefighter. A Newton Falls native and Newton Falls High School graduate, he first became an emergency medical technician 40 years ago.

“I’ve had a storied career,” he said referencing the 1985 tornado that ripped through Newton Falls and other area locations, as well as “train wrecks, plane crashes. I’ve had a good career.”

He will be 64 in November, Bauman said, and plans to “take it easy.” His last day is May 31.