CHAPEL HILL – The Chapel Hill Fire Department has named retired fire captain, Doug Kelly, as its interim fire marshal.

Public information officer, Lisa Edwards says Kelly served in the Chapel Hill Fire Department for more than 25 years and will serve as the interim fire marshal for the next 60-90 days. She says the department hopes to be able to fill the permanent position by then.

“We had an open recruitment, and we saw some pretty good candidates,” Edwards says. “We want to make sure we get the best fit for our department and our community, because that position interacts with the community so much.”

The fire marshal is responsible for the life safety division of the fire department—one which Chapel Hill has been working short on staff.

Matt Lawrence moved from the fire marshal position to Deputy Chief of Operations. Deputy Fire Marshal Dace Bergen has served as the interim fire marshal since January.

“The plan was he would just serve as interim until we found a permanent replacement,” Edwards says.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department operates from five fire stations around the town and staffs nearly 100 employees. Its budget is upwards of $7 million, and it’s responsible for protecting more than $7 billion worth of property—of which nearly $5 billion belongs to UNC.

Related Stories
‹
Victim Identified in Chapel Hill House Fire; Investigation Into Cause Still Ongoing
The Chapel Hill Fire Department said one person died in a house fire on the corner of Redbud Lane and Honeysuckle Road Monday morning.
Chapel Hill Fire Chief Discusses His Decision to Retire
When asked about any plans he has for retirement, Chapel Hill Fire Department chief Matt Sullivan has no shortage of ideas. “I want to learn how to bake bread, I think,” he says with a grin. “There’s a book in me that has been wanting to be written for a long time. I’ve had this […]
All Clear Issued for Potential Suspicious Package in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill authorities have issued an “all clear” for a potential suspicious package near University Place in Chapel Hill. Fire department crews were dispatched shortly before 9 a.m. and set up a perimeter around the recycling center behind a BP gas station. .@ChapelHillFD on scene at University Place taping off area around recycling center. Crews […]
Chapel Hill Police Warn About Scammers Asking for Donations
The Town of Chapel Hill is warning about scam callers asking for donations for the Chapel Hill Police and Fire Departments. These scams were brought to the town’s attention after a member of the Chapel Hill Fire Department recently received one of these calls. Community Safety communications specialist for Chapel Hill Ran Northam says that […]
Chapel Hill Fire Department Able to Provide New Life-Saving Services
The Chapel Hill Fire Department is now certified to deliver Emergency Medical Technician services to patients in the field. The certification is a culmination of nearly two years of preparation and training through a partnership with Orange County Emergency Services. Captain Jake Sinkiewicz, who was instrumental in making this change, has already seen the added […]
Police Headquarters Property Review Finds Pollutants
Stancil says.
Pair of W. Franklin Street Restaurants Permanently Shutter in May
The Central American restaurant The Latin Effect closed on May 28, while Rams Corner closed to Franklin Street customers earlier in the month.
Morris Grove Elementary School Dismissing Students Early Wednesday Due to Power Outage
Morris Grove Elementary School in Chapel Hill is dismissing students at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday after a fallen tree knocked out power to the building. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools first notified the community about the power, internet and phone outage at 9:14 a.m. Wednesday morning, identifying the cause as a fallen tree in the area of […]
CHCCS High Schools Win State Championships in Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer
Two local high schools each took home state championships last weekend. Chapel Hill High School took home the North Carolina 7A championship in women’s lacrosse, while Carrboro High won the 4A championship in women’s soccer. View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram Chapel Hill High won the women’s lacrosse title, its first […]
Chapel Hill Announces Adjusted Hours for Indoor Recreational Facilities and Centers
A difficult financial landscape is causing both residents and our local governments to tighten their budgets. In Chapel Hill, the town’s Parks and Recreation Department is adjusting its facilities hours – which helps keep costs more efficient, but leaders say also addresses bigger goals of the parks crew. The updates, as announced on Monday, shift […]
›