Charleston names fire chief

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) ó It’s official: Charleston has a new fire chief.
Thomas W. Carr was sworn in by Mayor Joe Riley on Friday, though he has been on the job for a few days.
Carr comes to Charleston after serving for 30 years in Maryland’s Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.
The Charleston department is still recovering from the tragedy of last year’s Sofa Super Store fire that killed nine Charleston firefighters. Carr invited the city’s fire commanders to train at his department following the Sofa Super Store fire.
Carr was selected from 140 applicants and seven finalists. He replaces Chief Rusty Thomas, who retired in June, a year after the deadly furniture store blaze.
Carr has 30 years experience in the fire service, including four years as chief. The Charleston native oversees 2,200 paid and volunteer firefighters.
Carr, who holds a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, also was a fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. A native of Charleston, his parents still live in the city.