Henry Daily Herald

Special Photo: The Henry County Board of Commissioners announced the appointment of Interim Fire Chief Bill Lacy, as the new fire chief for the county, Wednesday. Lacy had served as Interim Fire Chief since December 2009.

It is official. Henry County has a new fire chief.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners announced Wednesday it has appointed Interim Fire Chief Bill Lacy to the position.

"Chief Lacy is a proven leader with a heart for service, who has worked his way up through the ranks, earning the respect of all those who work with him, from his fellow firefighters to the Commissioners, as well as citizens throughout the community," said Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth 'B.J.' Mathis. "We are excited to officially appoint him to the position he has so capably handled during the interim."

Lacy has served for 25 years. He served as Interim Chief since December 2009, when his predecessor, Barry Jenkins, resigned.

"I feel very fortunate to be able to work with such an outstanding group of people in providing service to the citizens of Henry County,"; said Fire Chief Bill Lacy. "I am surrounded by great people. That is the strength of our organization. I am fortunate to be able to lead them, and feel humbled by it."

The new fire chief said he is extremely proud of the department. Lacy added that the Henry County Fire Department has been known as one of the most progressive in the state, due primarily to the emphasis put on training since he was first promoted to Captain in the Training Division, in 1988.

"Much like the military, our firefighter/EMTs are either accomplishing a mission, or preparing for one," said Lacy. "They each undergo more than 250 hours of training per year."

Lacy's interim period coincided with the hiring of the new Henry County Manager, Butch Sanders, who cited his own need to get acclimated to the needs of this community, and the desire to get to know Lacy on his own merits as the reason for the long interim period.

"It has taken a while, but the extra time has afforded me the opportunity to assess the community's needs, and I know that Chief Lacy is absolutely the best person for this position," explained Sanders. "He is a consummate professional with exceptional leadership skills, training and vision to make the Henry County Fire Department the most effective, sought-after agency in the region."

For more information about the Henry County Fire Department, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/fire.