Volunteer Sworn in as Smith County Deputy Fire Marshal

TYLER — County officials say Blake Duerler was sworn in Wednesday as the newest volunteer Smith County deputy fire marshal. The 26-year-old will follow in the footsteps of several Smith County fire marshals who started their careers as volunteers with the department, according to a county news release. Current Fire Marshal Jay Brooks volunteered as a deputy for nearly eight years before becoming the fire marshal last year. The county’s first and second fire marshals, Charles Shine and Jim Seaton, also served as volunteers. “It’s a good training program for the office,” Brooks said. Duerler will keep his full-time job and will be “on call” for large, complex fire scenes or other events, when it is good to have as many people working as possible, Brooks said.