Augusta-Richmond County Fire Chief Ronnie Few answers questions after announcing Friday he has accepted the position of fire chief in Washington. TODD BENNETT/STAFF

Few accepts D.C. job

Web posted June 3, 2000

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By Mark Mathis
Staff Writer

Citing the opportunity to improve the Washington Fire Department the way he did Augusta-Richmond County's, Fire Chief Ronnie Few stood with county leaders Friday to announce he was taking the top fire job in the nation's capital.

``It was a tough decision, but to have an opportunity to work in the nation's capital and to lead an organization that is somewhat flat on its back is somewhat similar to Augusta when I came here,'' Chief Few said. ``To be able to have that opportunity to do that, I'm not afraid. Some people say, `You ought to be afraid,' but you have prepared me well. I like the challenge, and that's what I do best.''

Chief Few was chosen ``based on his exemplary performance during 28 years of professional service, his leadership and his personal conviction to be a consensus builder to bring the firefighters and the emergency medical services and communications together,'' said Erik Christian, Washington's deputy mayor for public safety.

Washington Mayor Anthony Williams made the announcement Friday with Chief Few, who had flown to the District of Columbia that morning.

Chief Few still will have to be approved by the Washington City Council, Mr. Christian said.

OTHER STORIES: • Fire chief nears OK for Washington job • Chief answers questions • Capital supports fire chief • Few addresses allegations • Augustans back Few in capital • Agents confiscate fire records • Fire official resigns from department • Few pays $642 bill for calls • Officials' phone bills top $1,000 • Mayor is unsettled by debts • Chiefs group covers late bill • Chiefs' bill goes unpaid • Ex-fire chief bids farewell to Augusta • Group hits media for Few squabble • Fire chief reports to grand jury • Few faces final vote by D.C. council • Few accepts D.C. job

Augusta Mayor Bob Young said he will meet with Mr. Williams soon at the National Mayors Conference, where he will have nothing but glowing reviews for the Washington mayor's newest hire.

``From what I know about the Washington fire department from what I've read in recent days, I would tell Mayor Williams that he's getting the right person at the right time,'' Mr. Young said. ``But I would also chide him for taking my fire chief.''

Washington has been without a full-time fire chief since November. The district's interim chief, Thomas Tippett, resigned in early May after a dispute with the city's financial control board.

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

In Washington, Chief Few will lead one of the largest fire departments in the country. The Washington fire department has more than 1,800 employees, 30 engine companies and a 1999 budget of $111 million.

By comparison, Augusta's department has 325 employees, 19 engine companies and a 1999 budget of $13 million to $14 million.

The new job also will have a significant pay raise for Chief Few, from $80,000 to $130,000.

Washington officials say they are confident Chief Few's skills will translate well into the larger department, Mr. Christian said.

``Running a fire department, you have those skills wherever you are, and he's been a chief and been in the service for 28 years,'' he said. ``He will just be dealing with a larger number but will have a good transition team.''

The response to Chief Few's hiring from the local firefighters' and emergency medical technicians' unions has been overwhelmingly positive, he said.

This enthusiasm will need to continue for Chief Few to take on one of the capital's biggest issues - lowering department call-response times.

``He's going to have to build a consensus between firefighters, emergency medical workers and the 911 dispatchers,'' Mr. Christian said.

It was reported in the Washington media earlier this week that some in the district's EMS union thought Chief Few did not have enough of a medical background. But Mr. Christian said the chief has a solid base in emergency medical service knowledge.

``It's very rare when you can find somebody with that many years of experience on both sides of this department,'' Mr. Christian said.

Chief Few leaves behind a legacy in Augusta that has seen its share of highs and lows.

A November grand jury report said it had uncovered evidence of preferential distribution of pay raise funds to administrative employees within the department. No action was taken on the report, but another grand jury with an unlimited term was seated in January to investigate those allegations and others in the fire department and other city agencies.

Chief Few has denied the accusation, saying he gave the large raises to administration-level employees because they had been underpaid.

The Washington Times ran a front-page story on the grand jury probe Friday.

The search committee and Mr. Williams investigated the grand jury allegations while interviewing Chief Few, Mr. Christian said.

``We don't know all the details because of grand jury secrecy, but we are confident that the end result will not have any negative impact,'' Mr. Christian said.

But local officials focused on the highlights of Chief Few's time as Augusta-Richmond County fire chief.

His requirement that all new hires become licensed emergency medical technicians has put the fire department in the position of possibly taking over ambulance services in Augusta, City Administrator Randy Oliver said.

``There are a lot of innovative things that he has done within the fire department, and it's a better place for the chief having been there,'' he said.

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