Chapel Hill Fire Chief Vencelin Harris will retire on July 1, 2023, the town announced on Friday. Harris has served in the fire department for nearly 30 years.

“It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my decision to retire from the Town of Chapel Hill,” Harris said. “After many conversations with my family last spring, we decided that it is time for us to start the next journey in our lives over the summer of 2023.”

Harris assumed the role of fire chief in early 2020, replacing the retiring Matt Sullivan. Harris’ tenure as chief quickly became defined by the department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, Harris had served as emergency management coordinator in the department, as well as both a fire captain and a battalion chief.

“It will be hard to replace the institutional knowledge that Chief Harris will take with him,” said interim town manager Chris Blue. “We all appreciate his dedicated service to our community for nearly three decades and I look forward to celebrating his numerous achievements in the coming months. We will begin the search for his replacement immediately.”

 

Featured image via Town of Chapel Hill

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