Albemarle fire chief to retire after decades of service

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The chief of Albemarle County Fire Rescue is retiring after more than four decades of service to the county.

On Monday, Aug. 18, Albemarle officials announced that, after 23 years as chief and more than 40 years with the department, Chief Dan Eggleston will be retiring.

During Eggleston's tenure, Albemarle County Fire Rescue has constructed four new fire stations, hired more than 200 career firefighters and entered into multiple international partnerships.

The county credited Eggleston with securing more than $10 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which reportedly were used to modernize the department's fleet and to expand both its training and wellness programs.

In 2015, Eggleston was named the International Association of Fire Chiefs' (IAFC) Career Fire Chief of the Year, "a reflection of his leadership in building ACFR into a nationally respected combination system," per the county.

Chief Dan Eggleston. (Photo: Albemarle County Fire Rescue)

“Chief Eggleston has been a transformational leader for Albemarle County,” said county executive Jeff Richardson in Monday's press release. “His ability to strengthen Albemarle’s Fire Rescue system through partnerships and collaboration with volunteer companies, while also elevating the voice of the fire service on the national and international stage, is remarkable. He has built a modern, unified department that will continue to benefit our community long after his retirement.”

In the release, Eggleston agreed with Richardson, saying he knows the department will continue to flourish after his departure.

“My time with Albemarle County Fire Rescue has been the most rewarding chapter of my career,” he said. “The progress we have made together has been possible because of the dedication of our volunteers and staff. I am proud of the system we’ve built and confident it will continue to thrive.”

Eggleston's retirement will take effect on Oct. 24. The county will begin working to recruit his replacement "in the coming weeks."