The De Soto Rural Fire Protection District will have a new fire chief beginning in September after current fire chief Paul Mayer retires at the end of the month.
Mayer has been a firefighter for 43 years, serving the last 21 years as fire chief of De Soto Rural.
Assistant Chief Tom Fitzgerald will move up to chief next month. Fitzgerald says he has big shoes to fill. However, Fitzgerald mentions he is prepared to take over the department.
Fitzgerald has been a firefighter since September of 1987, starting with Shady Valley, which merged with Springdale back in 2009 to become known as Saline Valley Fire Protection District.