After 27 years of service, Fire Chief Mike Starr has announced his retirement from the Southlake Fire Department.
Chief Starr began his career with the City of Southlake in 1997, bringing nearly a decade of experience from his previous roles in Aubrey and The Colony. He started as a Firefighter and Paramedic, was later promoted to Fire Driver and Engineer, served as Captain of Operations, and became Fire Chief in 2008.
City Manager Alison Ortowski highlighted Chief Starr’s leadership in a statement, saying, “Chief Starr’s guidance has been crucial in navigating the challenges of a growing department while maintaining high service standards. Throughout his tenure, he has remained committed to leading and developing a department that models best-in-class service delivery.”
During his time as Chief, the Southlake Fire Department grew from 45 members in 2008 to 74 personnel today. Chief Starr oversaw the establishment of Station 1 DPS Headquarters in 2009 and the opening of Station 3 – DPS North Training Facility in 2014. He also played a significant role in maintaining the department's Commission on Fire Accreditation since 2000 and achieving an ISO 1 rating since 2014, accomplishments that are rare among fire departments statewide.
Chief Starr's last day with the City will be August 31.
