Mayor Jamie Clary nominated Hendersonville native George Edwards to be the new Fire Chief during the BOMA meeting on Tuesday, January 13. The board of Mayor and Alderman approved his nomination unanimously.
Edwards joined Hendersonville Fire Department in 1995 and has been promoted five times during his career, most recently in 2023 to Assistant Chief. A graduate of Beech Highschool, Edwards grew up loving the fire department and spent a lot of time visiting Hendersonville Fire Stations with a family friend who inspired his interest in fire service.
“To be the fire chief in my hometown is truly an honor. As the fire chief I’m going to work hard to build and strengthen the core of our department to meet the needs of our growing community,” said Edwards. “Even though we are a relatively large department now, I want it to feel like a small-town fire department for our residents because I think that’s the best way to connect with the community.”
The city opened applications for a new Fire Chief in November when former HFD Chief Scotty Bush announced his retirement. The city received approximately 45 applications from across the United States and opened interviews to six candidates.
“After a unanimous recommendation from our interview board, I met with George twice for discussions about operations and the expectations of the positions. We heard from city staff and residents as well. Without any reservations, I nominated George, and the board unanimously approved his appointment,” said Mayor Jamie Clary.
“George has provided the residents of Hendersonville with decades of professionalism, passion for service, and a calm demeanor during stress. I have every reason to believe that George will be an exceptional chief, and I look forward to working with him for many years.”