LaGrange fire chief search continues

Published 8:00 am Thursday, January 12, 2023

The City of LaGrange is still looking for candidates to replace former fire chief John Brant.

The city has been without a fire chief since Brant abruptly resigned on Dec. 21. A resignation letter sent to City Manager Meg Kelsey did not provide a reason for his departure after serving 27 years with the city.

Kelsey said they are still taking applications for the position, and they have four candidates so far.

“We’ve tried to cast a wide big net out there,” Kelsey said, noting that they posted the position on Georgia Marketplace and the Fire Chiefs Association.

Kelsey said the candidates they have received are qualified applicants, but she hasn’t started the interview process.

“We’re taking internal and external candidates for the position,” she said.

In the meantime, the fire department is without an official head fire chief. No interim chief has been named.

“I’m allowing the three deputy chiefs that we have to kind of manage operations, and they report directly to me,” Kelsey said.

The job opening has also been posted on the city’s website since Dec. 22, 2022.

The qualifications for the fire chief position include the following:

4 Must have Bachelor’s degree (fire science, business administration, management or related field) supplemented by fire related courses

4 Minimum of fifteen years’ experience in the fire and EMS service with a Georgia Firefighter certification

4 Possession of a valid State of Georgia Class B driver’s license

4 In good physical condition as set forth by LFD minimum fitness requirements

4 Ten years’ experience in the fire department in supervision