After searching for a new fire chief for more than a month, Fulton city officials decided the most natural fit is the man who's been there all along.
Kevin Coffelt - a 20-year veteran of the Fulton Fire Department and interim fire chief since Todd Farley's resignation in April - is the new chief, Fulton's Director of Administration Bill Johnson said.
"We interviewed (four) incredible candidates with different ideas and philosophies," Johnson said. "Kevin Coffelt was the unanimous decision of everyone involved."
Coffelt said he is grateful to be chosen.
"I'm feeling very excited and looking forward to leading the department into the future," Coffelt said.
Johnson added the city received about 60 applications for the position, which was posted online.
"The thing with fire chief candidates is that it's really a difficult selection process," he said.
He explained aspiring chiefs usually have a long list of experience and certifications to match their long list of duties. The chief must oversee all operations and training, supervise personnel, and administer the budget and spending.
The six members of the interview team - Johnson and five other department heads - had to sort through many highly qualified applicants. However, Coffelt's familiarity with Fulton gave him an edge.
"He's a native of Fulton and has lots of experience with the existing staff of Fulton," Johnson said. "(Also), he had some very appropriate plans and things he'd like to implement."
As a lifelong Fulton resident and after so much time with the force, Coffelt knows the town inside and out.
"I started my career here in Fulton as a volunteer in 1993," Coffelt said. "In 1997, I accepted a full-time position there, and after several years as a firefighter ,I moved up to engineer status."
From there, he worked up the ladder to assistant fire chief. Stepping into this role is the culmination of all those years of hard work, Coffelt said.
"I'll be a little bit nervous (to take over the fire chief position) but I feel like I'm prepared," he said. "I'm excited to work with such a great staff. I couldn't ask for a better group of firefighters to be working for."
When not at work, Coffelt coaches his two kids' sports teams and spends time with his fiancé, Tracy Hook.
"I can't think of a person more deserving, and I'm not just saying that because I'm his fiancé," Hook said while stopping by the station to offer congratulations.
According to Hook, Coffelt is constantly finding ways to help others.
City officials are also confident in Coffelt.
"He's going to be a good leader," Johnson said.
