Provisional Fire Chief Named to NY Department Facing Layoffs

CITY OF NEWBURGH, NY—Assistant Fire Chief Bill Horton, who also serves as Newburgh's city code compliance supervisor and building inspector, will take over as provisional fire chief starting Friday.

Acting fire chief of four years Terry Ahlers was retiring at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Horton will take on the temporary lead role while awaiting results from the civil service exam to become permanent chief, Horton said.

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If Horton passes, he could then be elevated to the permanent chief position.

"I'm excited," Horton said during a phone call Thursday afternoon. "It's something I strived for, both as a line fireman and line officer, and I put a lot of effort into my education. I think I'm well-positioned to use my experience and education to do the very best I can for the city ... I'm cautiously optimistic about it because things are going to be difficult."

In the new year, 14 firefighters and two vacant positions have been cut. The layoffs were initially announced in October and adopted in November as part of the city's effort to balance its 2020 municipal budget.

Horton has worked for the City of Newburgh since 2003. He is a nationally certified fire officer and state fire instructor, according to a news release from city government.

Horton said he will continue to work as the city's building inspector, but Newburgh will be looking for a new code compliance supervisor.

"I am pleased to announce Bill will serve as our next (provisional) fire chief," Mayor Torrance Harvey said in the release. "The experience he brings to the table speaks for itself. I am confident that his leadership will bring our department to the next level."

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