Sim pushes 'customer services' over past 20 years

Brandon Howard/The Weekly Vista Bella Vista’s fire chief for eight years, Steve Sims stands in front of a fire truck July 23 at Fire Station No. 1, 103 Town Center West. Sims celebrated his 20th anniversary with the Bella Vista Fire Department on June 2.
Brandon Howard/The Weekly Vista Bella Vista’s fire chief for eight years, Steve Sims stands in front of a fire truck July 23 at Fire Station No. 1, 103 Town Center West. Sims celebrated his 20th anniversary with the Bella Vista Fire Department on June 2.

When Steve Sims joined the Bella Vista Fire Department, he took his uniform down to Cunningham Corner to get it embroidered.

"I dropped off my shirts at Stitches & More and went outside," he said. "I was looking out across Highway 71 towards the hillside. I thought, 'you know what, I like this place. I'm going to be here for a while.'"

That was 20 years ago.

Sims, now the fire chief, said his tenure has been marked by community goodwill, camaraderie and a desire to serve Bella Vista's residents.

"When my son was born in 1995, he was immediately flown to Children's Hospital (in Little Rock)," Sims said. "He was diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia, which has a 50 percent mortality rate."

"My family and I drove straight down there. It was a big ordeal," Sims said. He noted that his son, Jeremy, is about to turn 20. "But while I was down there, this department here, they took care of me. They told me to stay with my family for as long as I needed until I came back -- no questions asked. I'd only been on the job for three months. That right there goes to tell you how well firefighters are brothers."

Sims strives to return that goodwill via service through his fire department.

"I'm a real big proponent of 'customer service,'" Sims said. "I think it's very important for our guys to realize and understand that those people we serve every day, they're our customers. They're the ones paying the taxes that keeps us in a job. I expect my guys to go the extra mile and help (residents) in any way we can. They're the people that take care of us."

And it hasn't been difficult to please residents.

"That's why I've stayed here all these years," Sims said. "It's been a good place to work under the (Property Owners Association) and under the city. I can't complain. I love my job and I love taking care of the community here."

Alderman Frank Anderson agrees.

"I think he's done an outstanding job throughout," Anderson said, who was mayor from 2007-2014. "He came to us back when and used every means at his disposable to get everybody's confidence."

A burning passion

A native of Northwest Arkansas, Sims was raised in Tonitown. In 1976, when Sims was 5 years old, his family lost their home to a fire. Despite the blaze being a total loss, no one was hurt.

Nearly four decades later, emblazoned on Sims' memory is the dedication and perseverance of the firefighters who responded to the call.

"I remember those guys doing everything they could on a house that was totally gone," Sims said. "They were still doing everything they could -- it was burnt clean to the ground -- they knew there was nothing they could do for it."

But the crews kept on battling the flames and checking on Sims and his family in spite of the adversary.

"I thought, you know what, that shows character," Sims said. "That shows they're doing everything they can for somebody."

That evening Sims knew he wanted to be a firefighter. But the journey would be grueling.

After graduating from Springdale High School in 1989, Sims got a job with Just US Printers in Springdale. Sims worked full-time as a printer in the bindery department, helping to churn out magazines, books, even media guides for the University of Arkansas Athletics Department.

"We hired (Sims) with no experience (in printing)," said Mike Justice, part owner of Just US Printers. "But he had just outstanding character and was a hard worker."

At that time, Sims was hoping to become a paramedic with Central EMS. Justice knew and worked to make Sims' hours more flexible.

"A person needs to do what they enjoy doing -- they'll go to work happier," Justice said. "He came to us and said he wanted to be a paramedic. But it wasn't easy. He was still working forty hours here, going to classes there, but we worked around it."

While balancing his job at Just US Printers, Sims received emergency medical technician certification in 1990. By 1991, he had completed paramedic school. He also spent time as a reserve for Central EMS and a volunteer with the Avoca Fire Department.

"They knew I wanted to be a paramedic/firefighter, so they helped where I could put myself through school," Sims said. "It was a great company to work for. They helped me realize my goal and I wouldn't be here without their help."

By 1993, Sims had married wife Lisa and was looking for full-time work as a firefighter.

"I'd heard good things about Bella Vista and decided to test here," he said. "But it wasn't until my second or third test that they picked me."

Sims joined BVFD on June 2, 1995, as a full-time firefighter/paramedic. In 2000, he was promoted to lieutenant, and in 2003, received the award for firefighter of the year. By 2006 he was named a battalion chief. About a year later, he was promoted to chief.

Henry Thompson hired Sims, and it was under Thompson's tutelage that Bella Vista became a more professional fire department, Sims said.

"Thompson started that progression," Sims said. "And I've used some of those (techniques), but it helped me develop tactics and strategies of my own."

The future of BVFD

Sims' said his primary focus right now is completing the fourth fire station, which will be located in the Highlands.

The Highlands Gate Station will be built on a 4.31-acre parcel just south of the intersection of Forest Hills Boulevard and Buckstone Drive. The city purchased the land last spring from Village Bible Free Evangelical Church for approximately $172,000. Plans call for a 9,300-square-foot facility with space for six bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Between nine and 12 firefighters will work at the station, covering the west-central portion of the city. Earthwork has already started, Sims said. He hopes to hold a ground-breaking ceremony later this summer. Estimates for the project hover around $2.5 million.

The station is tentatively scheduled to open in June.

And Sims said he has no plans of slowing down.

"I'll sit in this position as long as they keep me," Sims said. "But as of right now how much stress I'm under some days, no matter what's going on or what happens (to) increase that stress level, I love my job. I love this community. I love serving this community. I've met a lot of good people during my time in Bella Vista."

"And I can tell you the day I don't love my job anymore is the day I'll hang it up."

General News on 07/01/2015