WOODBRIDGE — The next fire chief for the city of Austin Texas is Joel Baker, the former chief in Atlanta.
Prince William County Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee was one of three finalists for the job. He interviewed at a public forum in Texas in late October with two other finalists, including Baker.
Knowing that his eyes are on the door, the county Board of Supervisors last Tuesday went behind closed doors deliberated on what to do about McGee. While some Board members who spoke to Potomac Local want McGee to make his exit, and soon, others would hate to see him go.
“No one is better qualified than Kevin McGee to lead the department,” said Chairman At-large Corey Stewart. “If it were up to me, he can stay as long as he wants.”
McGee couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.
His attempted exit comes after Supervisors in August 2017 voted to make McGee the system chief of the county’s entire fire and rescue service.
Following a 20-month process of committee meetings with both career staff and volunteer firefighters from across the county, the decision was a complete makeover for the department — one McGee said was necessary if both member factions were going to work together.
Before the decision, McGee had only authority over the career staff but not over individual volunteer companies. Eventually, the decision won support over a majority of the volunteers and career staff.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to address the issue publicly in the coming weeks, we’re told.
McGee has served as the county’s top fire official for the past 11 years.
