Fire Chief Robert Williams, who has been with the department for 34 years and has been its leader since 2009, will retire effective Feb. 28.
The third generation firefighter, credited with improving the Fire Prevention Division and enhancing the fire department's relationship with the business community, says he wants to spend more time with his family and friends and wants to travel.
"I have been honored to serve as member and most recently the fire chief for the Saratoga Springs Fire Department," Williams said in a statement. "It was my dream, as a child, to follow in the footsteps of my father, grandfather, and join the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. I am thankful for the opportunity and everything the city has provided me and my family throughout my career."
Williams, who is 58 years old, will continue to instruct firefighters as a state fire instructor and said he will volunteer.
"The city is going to miss the Chief tremendously," Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin said. "He is a popular figure throughout our city and has certainly advanced our fire, EMS and fire prevention programs into a 21st century service. Bob has a tremendous ability to focus on details and develop broad ranging plans for improved fire and health safety in our city."
Martin said he will conduct interviews for the position of fire chief and will announce an appointment at a future City Council meeting. The new chief will work alongside Williams during the transition.
Williams was born and raised in the city and went through the ranks after joining the department in 1984. His father Thomas J. Williams Jr. was a fire chief. With his grandfather, Thomas J. Williams Sr., the Williams family has invested more than 80 years in the city's fire department.
Williams has served as president of the Saratoga Springs Fire Administrative Officers and Fire Fighters Association, Local 343. He's a member of the state Fire Chiefs and Career Fire Chiefs Associations. He's a former member of the NY-TF 2 Urban Search and Rescue team as a rescue tech specialist and deployed on Sept. 11, 2001 to the Twin Towers in New York City.
During his tenure, Williams improved the response readiness and deployment of fire and EMS resources, oversaw several infrastructure and improvement projects, helped secure SAFER grant funding for hiring back firefighters who were laid off in 2010, improved the department's records management and communications systems and served as Emergency Management Incident Commander when the city declared a State of Emergency following the lightning strike and fire at City Hall in August.
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