Montgomery County, Md., fire chief would be returning to roots

A city native who runs a fire department 10 times the size of Charleston's was nominated to become the next fire chief Monday by Mayor Joe Riley and was warmly received by city firefighters and elected officials alike.

If confirmed by City Council, as expected, 54-year-old Thomas Carr Jr. will leave a department with a $195 million annual budget in order to take the helm in Charleston.

Brad Nettles
The Post and Courier

Montgomery County, Md., Fire Chief Thomas Carr Jr. (right) talks with Capt. Troy Williams (from left), Capt. Terry Hess and Assistant Engineer Zsolt Szoke on Monday at the Coming Street Fire Station after being nominated to command the Charleston Fire Department.

He will likely take command in November and oversee the dramatic, ongoing changes in the Fire Department that began after the tragic 2007 Sofa Super Store fire.

Carr is chief of Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Service, where he began his career in 1978 as a paramedic and firefighter.

A gravelly-voiced man with a classic firefighter's mustache, Carr's appearance at the mayor's side in City Hall put to rest weeks of speculation.

"We've got a lot of work to do and the right leader to do it," Riley said after his announcement, which was broadcast to city fire stations.

Carr was selected from 141 nationwide applicants.

He participated in an unprecedented interview process with six other finalists last week in which they were introduced to and vetted by City Council, firefighters and neighborhood leaders.

A confirmation vote is scheduled Oct. 7 by City Council.

"I am confident that council's reaction will be — mine is — that we will have the best fire chief in America," said Riley, using a phrase he had frequently used to describe former Fire Chief Rusty Thomas.

Thomas, embattled in the wake of the sofa store fire, retired this summer.

"I would have been happy with some of the others, but I'm very happy with Chief Carr," said Councilwoman Yvonne Evans, chairwoman of council's Public Safety

Committee. "I think the city is ready, and the Fire Department is ready, to move on."

City Council had pressed for a greater role in selecting the chief, and members were pleased with the decision to reveal the finalists and bring them in for meetings and one-on-one interviews with the Public Safety Committee.

Councilman Jimmy Gallant, who resigned from that committee earlier this year to protest a lack of input, hugged Riley on Monday and thanked him for the role council was given.

"I appreciate you for doing this," Gallant told the mayor.

Carr would take command of a department still recovering from the nation's worst loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 terror attacks. The June 2007 blaze at the Sofa Super Store on Savannah Highway in West Ashley killed nine firefighters.

The deaths exposed Fire Department failings, including questionable tactics and outdated equipment.

The city has been implementing sweeping recommendations from a team of fire service professionals hired as consultants, from expensive purchases of new equipment to new training procedures.

"I think it's too early to say if those were Band-Aids or permanent solutions," Carr said during an interview after his nomination was announced.

"If change is needed, we'll institutionalize what's good and go from there," he said.

Gordon Routley, head of the consulting panel, said he made no secret of his support for Carr.

"For Charleston, it's an absolute coup to get someone of his caliber," Routley said.

Carr has a reputation as a chief who can implement change and bring different groups together without appearing to force his will, Routley said.

Carr said he makes a practice of holding one-on-one meetings with firefighters, and always responds to lowest-ranking firefighters first when answering his e-mail.

Evans described Carr as a quiet, fatherly leader, and Riley several times described him as a "gentle man."

In Montgomery County, Carr is known for creating an urban search and rescue program that's considered a national model, along with wellness initiatives and a focus on incident command.

Charleston City Councilman Aubry Alexander said Carr was among his top three choices.

"You couldn't lose in this one," Alexander said. "Any one of these guys could have brought a lot to the Fire Department.

"I was getting a lot of e-mails from firemen, present and retired, who were pushing for Chief Carr," Alexander said.

Firefighters, dozens of whom attended the press conference, applauded Carr's selection.

"Chief Carr represents the type of change in leadership we have needed for a long time," Capt. Jamie Greene said.

"Today is a day we have been looking forward to," said Bill Haigler, an engineer at Station 20 in Cainhoy and member of the local firefighters' union. "We've got someone who is going to steer the ship now."

Carr, who is married and has a teenage daughter at home, was born in Charleston and his parents live downtown. He said a desire to be closer to his parents played a role in his decision to accept the job.

Fire Chief magazine Editorial Director Janet Wilmoth said Charleston can expect a noticeable difference with Carr.

"He's incredible, and the people who work for him, I have yet to meet anyone who is not crazy about him," she said.

Acting Charleston Fire Chief Ronald Classen plans to retire when the new chief arrives.

Classen said he first met Carr when he and other commanders from the Charleston Fire Department visited Carr's department in Maryland in the wake of the sofa store blaze to attend advanced fire training.

"I'm glad they picked Chief Carr," Classen said. "He knows everything there is to know about the fire service."

Glenn Smith contributed to this report. Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com. Reach Ron Menchaca at rmenchaca@post andcourier.com or 937-5724.