RINGGOLD, Ga. — A day after Catoosa County commissioners approved a new fire services plan, County Manager Mike Helton announced that Charles “Chuck” Nichols, 49, is the county’s first full-time fire chief.
“I consider Mr. Nichols the Catoosa County fire chief, effective today,” Mr. Helton said Wednesday. “He is in immediate command of all fire services provided by Catoosa County government.”
Because it’s an appointment, the title must be classified as “interim,” Mr. Helton said. But it l carries a $64,000 salary.
“The opportunity appealed to me with the great resources in Catoosa County,” Chief Nichols said Wednesday. “An opportunity is also a challenge, and challenges keep most of us going.”
He’s a former assistant chief with the Chattanooga Fire Department Tactical Services Division, and retired after 28 years. Most recently he was a captain and training officer for the Signal Mountain Fire Department.
The chief and Mr. Helton visited county fire stations Wednesday to meet with fire fighters.
The previous night, Mr. Helton met with Catoosa Fire and Rescue volunteers at Station 1. Commissioners had just approved a fire services plan with the county department covering all Catoosa except Fort Oglethorpe. That includes the area long covered by two Post Volunteer Fire Department stations.
During a year-long effort to consolidate fire services, the county hired 28 firefighters to work days, and hopes its 50-plus volunteers will continue to turn out at night.
Mr. Helton said the new chief comes from a fire department with an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 2 and has a strong training background.
“He knows what is needed to improve our ISO rating,” he said abut Catoosa’s ISO 5 classification.
