KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Blount County Fire Protect District may soon have a new leader after the fire chief and its board resigned late last year.
The department’s three-person Board of Commissioners met Tuesday. Following the meeting, Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell must now approve Jerry Phillips, Quentin Caldwell and Nick Bright as full-time commissioners. They were appointed on an interim basis after Gerald Kirby, Tom Daffron and Benny Kirby resigned from their roles in November along with Fire Chief Doug McClanahan.
Fire Captain Jason Stinnett said all interviews for vacant fire chief position have been completed and an announcement is expected soon. Following the selection of a new fire chief, the department is seeking to hire eight to 10 more firefighters to fill existing open positions.
The resignations followed a Blount County Fire Protection District meeting on November 18, where firefighters voiced concerns surrounding leadership. Firefighters had sent a letter dated Oct. 24 to county leadership detailing concerns over workplace atmosphere, inefficiency, lack of transparency from the department’s administration.
Read more on WATE 6 On Your Side
