ATHENS, Tenn. — Bill Dyer was a battalion chief at the Oak Ridge Fire Department when he considered applying for the Athens chief’s position that came open when Bob Miller retired.
The Athens department’s full roster was only as large as the 23-person single shift he commanded in Oak Ridge, he said.
But he was pleasantly surprised when he visited this city of 13,000.
“I found a department with incredible equipment, a group of very dedicated professionals and a great fire marshal who truly understands the building codes,” Mr. Dyer said.
When Chief Miller announced he was retiring, Mr. Dyer applied and was hired last fall.
Chief Dyer said some things about the profession don’t change much.
“It’s basically water, pumps, ladders and hose,” he said.
But there have been many improvements in equipment, safety techniques and approaches to firefighting, he said. He said his approach is to set a course for the department and let the front-line professionals do their jobs.
“I believe a chief should tell the direction you want the department to go, and not have to be a rah-rah leader to get firefighters to want to move forward,” Chief Dyer said.
Under the new chief, firefighters are participating in safety surveys. With more than 800 business licenses in the city, many buildings could have unknown dangers.
“I want the firefighters to know what is in a commercial or industrial building,” Mr. Dyer said. “That helps protect the citizens and the firefighters.”
He wants to improve training and hopes to work with other departments to build a regional approach and to upgrade hazardous material certifications.
Former chief Miller said the department is “in good hands” under Chief Dyer.
Fire Capt. Keith Barton calls his boss “a firefighter’s chief.”
“He is a good guy, and everyone on the department really likes him,” Capt. Barton said.
Chief Dyer said he’ll keep living in Knox County, but he can be in Athens in less than 30 minutes in an emergency.
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