FORT SMITH, Ark. —
Procession Route
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, a funeral procession was held for Fort Smith Fire Department (FSFD) Chief Phil Christensen.
Chief Christensen died after fighting brain cancer for nine months.
The procession will started at Fire Station 1 located at 200 North 5th St. and ended at Evangel Temple where the funeral took place.
Residents of the city lined the streets of the procession routes to pay their respects to Chief Christensen and FSFD.
Remembering Chief Christensen
"You can't say enough about Phil Christensen's character," said Wade Marshall, president of the Arkansas Professional Firefighters Association.
FSFD Battalion Chief Darrell Clark says Chief Christensen was a great leader within the department.
Chief Christensen joined FSFD 31 years ago and has been in nearly every position. In 2016, he became chief of the fire department.
"He was very driven and he was a great firefighter and a leader," Clark said. "So it was natural for him to move up."
"That’s what we do. We help people. I love to be able to help people," said Chief Christensen during an interview with 5NEWS in 2013. "We're firemen, that's what we do."
Chief Christensen comes from a family of fighting fires, with his son, brother and nephew also being firemen.
Cancer linked to years of fighting fires
Cancer is a hard-fought battle that isn't uncommon for firefighters.
Research shows that firefighters are 14% more likely to die from cancer. In 2022, the International Association of Firefighters added 469 names to their memorial wall. 348 of the names added were members who died from occupational cancer.
This is the second time in the last few years that a firefighter with FSFD has died from cancer. According to Wade Marshall, firefighter Eric Morrison died of cancer at a really young age.
Both Morrison and Christensen's deaths are listed as a "line of duty death,' because their cancer was caused by years of battling fires.
"Unfortunately it's our most aggressive guys that work at the busiest stations, fight the most fires, do the most work, and those are the guys that we see disproportionately getting cancer-related to fire services," said Marshall.
"He told me he was going to be here until he retires or until he dies... and I knew he meant it," said Clark.
Celebrating Christensen's life and legacy
Chief Christensen was remembered as a man who would do anything for his community. At the funeral service, Mayor George B. McGill spoke about his leadership in the department and the city.
"He practiced every day by listening to his team, listening to the administration and the board members on the things that they thought were important for the safety and welfare of our citizens," said McGill
He was called a servant leader several times with many chuckling during portions of the service as they fondly thought of Chief Christensen. A chief who was always willing to help others, even with home improvement projects, tree removals, or something as simple as a leaky faucet.
City Administrator Carl E. Geffken even joked about how Christensen would tell him he'd be over budget, because of all the overtime he spent serving the city.
"Phil exemplified what it meant to be a servant leader. And as you heard today, what was mentioned by others, that Phil freely gave himself, he helped others," said Geffken. "If someone needed help, he was there to do it. And he volunteered. He never needed to be asked."
As the bell tolled three times for the fallen chief, his life and legacy would live on throughout the fire department and community.
"People of Fort Smith should feel good about the fact that a person's like Phil served them for a long, long time. They know what a good fire chief looks like," said Mayor McGill.
"He'll stay alive in all of our hearts and in all of our minds. And when we move forward—which we will—we will appoint another fire chief as the staff moves up within the fire department. Phil's legacy will be fulfilled because of what he gave to the fire department and what he taught them," said the city administrator. "As long as we remember the man, the fire chief, the grandfather, the person who Phil Christensen was and still is in our hearts. He'll never die."
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