Grapevine Fire Chief Steve Bass dreamed of fireman’s job at age three

by Minnie Payne

GRAPEVINE — When 57-year-old Grapevine Fire Chief Steve Bass was growing up in Hurst, he dreamed of being a firefighter, and he has more than fulfilled that dream.

“From the time I was three years old, I never had any desire but to be a fireman,” he said. “I played fireman; I wore my baseball cap backward; I wore my raincoat and rubber boots.

“God has blessed me in that I got to live that dream.”

Bass said that when he was 16 years old he became a volunteer firefighter for the Hurst Fire Department.

“I attended Tarrant County Junior College fulltime for one year, and then went into the air force reserves for six years,” he said. “After serving in the reserves, I returned to Tarrant County Junior College, working as a paid firefighter for the Hurst Fire Department until I received an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Technology.”

According to Bass, he went to work for the Dallas Fire Department as a rookie in 1972, retiring as a deputy chief in 1998. He served six years as a fire chief of the Bedford Fire Department and one year as deputy city manager in Bedford.

“Circumstances arose in Bedford and I was offered the job of deputy city manager,” he said. “I didn’t want it, but told them I would pray about it. I didn’t enjoy the job.”

Bass received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in fire management from Dallas Baptist University in 1995. He has state certifications as a master firefighter, master instructor, hazardous materials technician, and head of fire department.

“I think that everyone in the arena of public safety certainly likes work that involves danger,” he said. “It’s exciting; it’s challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

He said that he has been in quite a few dangerous situations.

“I have fought many high-rise building fires and have been involved in several rescue instances where we were placing ourselves in danger.”

The largest fire he was ever involved in was a relatively old apartment complex in Dallas. He said it was covered in wood shingles on the roof and had wood siding.

“The fire got out of control fast, and it took half of the Dallas Fire Department to bring it under control.”

Bass said that he makes it a point to talk to some of the firemen every day.

“In addition to casual meetings, we have monthly structured meetings,” he said. “I meet with all supervisory personnel at least every two months and with all the firemen every three months.

“In between that, I visit fire stations and try my best to be extremely available and very much a part of their life.”

Grapevine boasts five fire stations, six firefighting units and three paramedic ambulances. There are 98 uniformed firefighters.

“A typical day would probably be a series of meetings with inside and outside sources, along with e-mails and telephone calls,” Bass said. “Certainly, there are also emergencies that I respond to.”

Bass has been married to his wife, Karen, for 26 years, and they have one daughter, two sons, and three grandchildren.

“Steve has wanted to be a fireman since childhood, and he has lived that dream out,” said Karen, Bass’ wife. “He has become an excellent firefighter chief and loves his firefighters with all his heart. He’s just an all around good man.”

According to Bass’ minister, Jerry Campbell, four years ago Bass took what he has learned as a fireman and started a spiritual discipline men’s group, Iron Men of God Rookie School, wherein the men participate in such things as learning the books of the Bible.

“He’s the same guy at church, work, and school,” Campbell said.