Tarrant Fire & Rescue Department

The Tarrant Fire & Rescue Department serves the City of Tarrant by responding to fires and medical and hazardous materials emergencies.

It shares the Tarrant Public Safety Building at 2593 Commerce Circle with the Tarrant Police Department.

In 2021 Tarrant fire chief Jason Rickels was fired by Mayor Wayman Newton, a month after Rickels was arrested in Roswell, Georgia and charged with felony assault. The city conducted an independent review of the circumstances before Newton made the decision to terminate him. The criminal charges against Rickels were dropped in 2022 and the Tarrant City Council made plans to reinstate him as chief with back pay and benefits.

Chiefs

• Billy Hewitt, 1996–2015
• Jason Rickels, 2015–2021
  • Shane Holliday (acting), 2021–

References

• Reed, Jon (April 21, 2015) "Tarrant appoints new fire chief." The Birmingham News
• Koplowitz, Howard (April 12, 2021) "Tarrant mayor axes ‘absolutely irresponsible’ Fire Chief Jason Rickels after assault arrest." The Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (November 4, 2022) "Tarrant council to vote on rehiring fire chief once accused of pulling gun on Black Atlanta realtor after charges dismissed." The Birmingham News

External links

• Fire & Rescue Dept. at cityoftarrant.com