Chief stays silent on decision

Fire department leader keeps focus on local crew while debating Washington position

Web posted May 27, 2000

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By Mark Mathis
Staff Writer

An offer is on the table from Washington, but Chief Ronnie Few said he has made no decision and is still primarily concerned with his job as head of the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department.

In a telephone interview Friday, Chief Few said he has tried to shy away from commenting on the Washington position to keep from bringing any unneeded stress on his department.

``It just hurts the department,'' he said. ``They've asked me, and I'm still considering. I haven't made a decision yet. I've always been the top one for the job, but I don't know yet. I just have to weigh things.''

The endless speculation in both the local and Washington media has been a source of added stress and frustration during the past few weeks, Chief Few said.

``They haven't gotten it right yet,'' he said. ``One day someone said I was out of it, and I was on my way to D.C. that day to interview.''

The additional rumors that he already has taken the job and that he went out actively looking for other employment are also untrue.

``I haven't told anybody that I was going to take the job,'' Chief Few said. ``I've got to come to a conclusion. Right now, I'm just looking at a job that somebody told me to look at. I don't know what I'm going to do at this point.''

But despite the offer and opportunity that has been presented to him, Chief Few said his first priority is still the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department.

``I'm trying to make sure that I keep my department rolling on, but some people just keep hyping it up,'' he said. ``I love this city, and there are a lot of good people in this city. I still want to be a part of this city. If I left and then retired later, I would come right back here to Augusta to live.''

The fire department is also close to many of the goals Chief Few has wanted to realize since he took over the post in 1997.

``I feel like I've still got some unfinished business,'' he said. ``I came here to change a whole lot of things, and I'm right at the brink of getting so much that I've asked for.''

The fire department is set to receive $23 million from the 1 cent sales tax that will go toward renovating, relocating and providing additional staffing for the county's 19 fire stations.

But at the same time, the Washington job is a good opportunity that is still being weighed with realizing these Augusta goals, Chief Few said.

``Either way, it doesn't make a difference whether I go or come,'' he said. ``I'm going to feel good about what I do. If I stay, I'm going to feel good about staying here and doing a good job. If I go, there's another opportunity I feel good about serving in a major city in the United States.

``I really don't know which way I want to go yet. I do need to put this to rest, and in the next week I'm going to certainly do that.''

Reach Mark Mathis at (706) 823-3227 or marmathis@yahoo.com.