Henrico Fire Chief Edwin Smith retired Sept. 14 and received a surprise send-off from Henrico firefighters and county officials on his last day. Smith was greeted in the parking lot of the county’s Public Safety building by several fire trucks, a ladder truck with an American flag flying and numerous members of the division, which he led for the past five years.

Smith spent 38 years with the division, beginning in May 1974 as a firefighter. He served in every suppression position as a firefighter and officer and advanced to serve as an inspector, investigator and later commander of the Fire Prevention section. A promotion to battalion chief and later chief of training for the division preceded his appointment to chief Aug. 18, 2007.

Smith is an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association and Central Virginia Fire and Arson Association. In 2010, he was appointed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to the Virginia Fire Services Board.