Dennis Presley, chief for 22 years of the fire department responsible for protecting homes, businesses and lives across a wide swath of southern Buncombe County, is set to retire.
Presley, 57, will step down as head of Skyland Fire and Rescue on Aug. 20, he told County Manager Mandy Stone in a Wednesday email.
He was the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs 2010 Career Chief of the Year and earlier in his service was recognized for heroism during a swift water rescue.