Little Rock, AR (19 February 2009) After reviewing applications of people interested in becoming the next Little Rock Fire Chief, City Manager Bruce T. Moore has narrowed the list of candidates down to nine. These candidates will be interviewed over the next few weeks before Moore chooses the final candidates.

The applicants to be interviewed are:
• Jerry D. Brooks – Deputy Chief, Fort Worth (TX) Fire Department
• J. T. Cantrell -- Assistant Fire Chief, Little Rock Fire Department
• William E. Jolley – Assistant Fire Chief, St. Petersburg (FL) Fire & Rescue
• Don Kinney – Assistant Fire Chief, Little Rock Fire Department
• Raymond Lewis, Jr. – Division Fire Chief, Memphis (TN) Fire Department
• Gary Ludwig – Deputy Fire Chief, Memphis (TN) Fire Department
• Charles E. McMillan – Division Fire Chief, Denver (CO) Fire Department
• Dannie C. Smith – Retired Fire Chief, Sugar Land (TX) Fire Department
• Gregory C. Summers – Interim Fire Chief, Little Rock Fire Department

Moore noted, “I was pleased by the high caliber of applicants for this position. It speaks well to the past successes of the Little Rock Fire Department and the potential for even more accomplishments in the future. I look forward to getting the chance to interview these nine candidates over the next few weeks.”

Following the initial interviews, the most qualified candidates will be brought in for a final round of interviews and a public reception before the final selection is made.
The new Fire Chief will succeed Rhoda Mae Kerr, who was sworn-in as Fire Chief of Austin, Texas earlier this year.

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About the Little Rock Fire Department
For more then 128 years, the Little Rock Fire Department (LRFD) has provided comprehensive fire safety and emergency services for the citizens of the City of Little Rock. The LRFD is staffed with highly qualified professional firefighters who are focused on prevention and education, and always ready to provide fire and emergency services – saving lives and protecting property. LRFD has twenty (20) fire stations and over 400 employees that protect 123 square miles and 187,000 citizens, along with the thousands of visitors and people who work in the City every day.