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Fayetteville Fire Chief Announces Retirement

 Fayetteville Fire Chief Announces Retirement  

(Fayetteville, N.C. March 2, 2011) – Benny Nichols will retire as chief of the Fayetteville Fire Department after 39 years of service to the City of Fayetteville on July 1, 2011. 

Chief Nichols cites no specific reason for his decision to leave the fire service other than “after 39 years of service, it’s time to do something else. I feel I have been very effective during my tenure with this organization. Any success that I’ve enjoyed in my long career with Fayetteville is in large part owed to the wonderful team we have in the Fayetteville Fire Department.” 

As word spread around Fayetteville City Hall, the comments mirrored those of City Manager Dale Iman, “he will be missed, but he has built a world-class fire department through dedication and loyalty, and I wish him all the best on his next adventures.”

Chief Nichols has served at every level of the Fayetteville Fire Department; however it was during his leadership as chief of the organization, from 2004 and 2011, that it experienced unprecedented growth. Known for his energetic pace, during his administration, the City of Fayetteville Fire Department met the challenges of a massive city annexation by opening six new fire stations, increasing the fire fighter staffing by 40 percent, and purchasing and equipping every City fire station with industry recognized, state of the art equipment. He has also been recognized across the state for innovation and guidance for projects such as the Fire Science Academy at EE Smith High School, for which he received the Nancy Susan Reynolds Award for Race Relations in 2008.

The City of Fayetteville was recognized at the 2005 National Congress of Cities with the James C Howland Municipal Enrichment Gold Award for partnerships inspired by Chief Nichols at Fire Station 14.

Chief Nichols was also awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest honors the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

Though succession planning within the Fayetteville Fire Department is a part of each employee’s career development, Chief Nichols’ successor is not known at this time.  Transition plans will begin immediately.  The Chief stated, “It’s hard to believe this is finally a reality, but I am confident I am leaving the organization in very capable hands.”  

When asked what his plans for the future were, Chief Nichols smiled and replied, “I am looking forward to exploring new ideas, challenges and opportunities.”