D.C. chooses Augusta fire chief

Web posted June 2, 2000

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By Mark Mathis
Staff Writer

Augusta-Richmond County Fire Chief Ronnie Few will be named head of the Washington fire department today in the nation's capital, according to a source within the department.

Chief Few will fly to Washington this morning for the formal announcement. He will return to Augusta for a news conference this evening to address the local media at Fort Discovery, where the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs Conference will be holding a dinner, the source said late Thursday.

County Commissioners and other local political leaders will be with Chief Few at the local news conference.

Chief Few was at a dinner for the fire chiefs conference and unavailable for comment late Thursday.

Chief Few confirmed last week that he had been offered the position, but said he felt like he still had unfinished business in Augusta.

The decision to name Chief Few as the next fire chief of Washington was that of the district's mayor, Anthony Williams. Chief Few still would need to be approved by Washington's city council.

The job reportedly will pay $130,000 annually.

The Washington Fire Department is one of the top 20 largest in the United States and ranks in the top in the number of calls received, according to Firehouse Magazine, a trade publication.

Mayor Bob Young said late Thursday that he had not been told by Chief Few about the decision.

``I wish him well,'' Mr. Young said. ``This is his experience. He has to do with what he's comfortable doing.''

Chief Few's emphasis on greater community involvement and modernizing and upgrading the department with continual medical and rescue training will be his legacy as Richmond County fire chief, Mr. Young said.

Chief Few has been the head of the Richmond County Fire Department since 1997.

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