By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

WESTOVER – The City of Westover names Ricky King as the new fire chief of the City of Westover Fire and Rescue Department.

King began his role on Jan. 31, 2011. King was a councilman for the City of Chelsea until Jan. 31, 2011, when he resigned to take the position of chief.

King holds prior experience as public safety chair on the City of Chelsea’s City Council and 25 years of experience in the fire service.

“I started as a junior volunteer at Chelsea, and am currently a lieutenant with the Pelham fire department,” King said. “I enjoy the fire service and serving the community, and look forward to the opportunity of working with Westover’s combination department, a combination of volunteer and full-time firefighters.”

With a background in fire safety education, King intends to bring new programs into the community in order to promote fire safety.

“My background at Pelham was fire safety education, and I was fire chief when Chelsea was all volunteer, I hope to increase community relations and community involvement and grow a group of volunteers, increase our volunteer department,” King said.

“I want to get in the community. I have a couple of programs in mind. With a small organization like this, it takes more than just the one man in the fire truck, it’s going to take a community.”

A badge-pinning ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the City Council meeting on Feb. 15, 2011 starting at 6:30 pm at Westover’s city hall, 3312 Westover Road.

Westover Fire and Rescue is located at 5329 Old Highway 280, Westover, AL 35147.