Chief Rick Bartee took the helm of the Roseville Fire Department in November, after 34 years with the Phoenix Fire Department. In his varied career, he’s seen it all—from the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina. As part of many Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urban search and rescue task force deployments, he’s been at the scene of some of the worst disasters in recent U.S. history; despite this, Bartee has no regrets about his career choice. When he was just 18 years old, he joined the fire service, confident he wanted to pursue a career in public safety. “It was either become a police officer or a firefighter,” he says with a laugh. “I became a firefighter.” For Bartee, the best part of his chosen profession is the ability to work as part of a team. “It’s what drew me to the fire service,” he explains. “You see four to five men and women as much as you see your own family; you have to rely on them to have your back, and you have their back. At the same time, you’re taking care of citizens.”

Bartee is also a passionate advocate for foster care and adoption services. He’s a proud father of six children, three of whom were adopted out of the system. “Being a firefighter puts things in perspective,” he shares. “You meet so many kids, and there’s always an opportunity for an adult to have a positive effect on their lives.”

By Amber Foster // Photos by Dante Fontana © Style Media Group

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