On Tuesday, June 27th 2006 Retired Fire Chief Edward Arrants died after an extended battle with cancer. Fire Chief Arrants was dedicated to the Fire Service his entire life and began his career as a volunteer with the Branchport Hose Company in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1957. He was a member of the United States Air Force as a Fire Protection Specialist from 1959 – 1963 and then worked or volunteered for a number of other agencies including the West Palm Beach and Palm Springs Fire Departments and the Inter City First Aid Squad.
Chief Arrants began his tenure with the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department in August 1973 with a staff of eighteen personnel. Upon his retirement in 1998, the agency had grown under his direction to seventy four paid and twenty volunteer staff members. Fire Chief Arrants is credited with bringing Emergency Medical Service delivery to the department in 1994, something he was most proud of. Chief Ed was an active member of a number of local, national and international Fire Service Boards and was the Florida Fire Chief of the Year in 1984.
In addition to his fire service pursuits, Chief Arrants was very active in the community through civic organizations and was a co-founder of the Palm Beach Gardens Chamber of Commerce, Charter Member of the American Legion Post 371, Charter Member of Council 13139 of Saint Peter Knights of Columbus, Member of the Palm Beach County Republican Club and Distinguished Secretary of the National Exchange Club. Chief Arrants was involved with the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse as Director, prior to becoming ill.
Chief Arrants is survived by his wife of thirty years, Kathleen, his father Francis and several cousins. He was predeceased by his mother.
