Anderson fire board to interview in-house candidates for chief first

Two Anderson firefighters will have the first shot as Anderson Fire Protection District's next fire chief, the district board ruled at a regular meeting Tuesday. Acting Fire Chief Andy Nichols and Battalion Chief/Fire Marshall Howard Fincher would interview with the board for the job at a special closed session meeting on Aug. 17 at 6 p.m.

The board decided to wait until after the interviews to decide whether to advertise the fire chief position for candidates outside the AFPD.

"We should interview them first to determine if either are qualified," board chairman Keith Webster said.

Promoting one of the two in-house chiefs and not replacing the position could save the district enough money for extra full-time fire fighters, board member Paul Bosetti said.

"We don't need three chiefs for three fire fighters," Bosetti said.

The $70,000 saved from the position could fund two full-time fire fighters and part of a third, excluding benefits, Webster said, adding that that was extremely close to the district's goal of hiring three additional firefighters.

"It would get us over two, and that would be the closest we've ever been," Webster said.

Additional personnel would allow for two fire fighters to go on call rather than one.

The work load from the potentially vacated position would be delegated among captains, Webster said.