TOWN OF FOREST CITY ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF BILLY SAMUEL AS NEW FIRE CHIEF
TOWN OF FOREST CITY ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF BILLY SAMUEL AS NEW FIRE CHIEF
Forest City, NC: The Town of Forest City is pleased to announce the selection of Billy Ray Samuel, Jr. as the new Fire Chief for the Town of Forest City. Town Manager Janet Mason announced Samuel’s appointment to this position at the council meeting held on Monday, August 5, 2024. Mason expressed confidence in Samuel and appreciation for his service to the Town. Samuel brings 33 years of fire service experience, a wealth of knowledge, and a strong dedication to leading and serving the people of Forest City to this new role.
After Mayor Steve Holland administered the oath of office, Samuel thanked Mayor Holland, council members, and Dr. Mason for the opportunity to lead Forest City Fire Rescue. “It’s a great honor to lead the fine men and women that we have at the fire department,” said Samuel. “I am eager to work hand-in-hand with each of our fire departments to move our fire department in the right direction for the future. I will continue to work with other departments in the town to make this the best place to live, work, and visit in North Carolina.” Chief Samuel was accompanied by his wife, Melanie Samuel, his stepdaughter, Hannah and several other family members. Members of the Forest City Fire Rescue department and other local departments also attended the meeting.
Chief Samuel began his employment with the Town of Forest City as a firefighter/EMT in July 2004 and has just celebrated 20 years of service to the Town. In 2014, Samuel was promoted to Captain, and was later promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in 2021. He has served as interim fire chief since the retirement of Chief Ferrell Hamrick. In addition to his service with the Town of Forest City, Chief Samuel has also served as a volunteer fireman with the Town of Rutherfordton and the Hudlow Volunteer Fire Department. Samuel holds a number of qualifying certifications and is a member of various emergency response organizations, including the Rutherford County Fire Chiefs Association, the Rutherford County Emergency Management Response Team, the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and the IAFC Terrorism of Homeland Security team.
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