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Fountain Green announces acting fire chief; formal appointment to be considered in June
Summary
The council announced the appointment of Austin Blackham as acting fire chief effective June 1; council members praised department leadership and said a formal appointment will be voted on at an upcoming meeting.
Fountain Green councilors announced on May 12, 2026 that Austin Blackham will serve as acting fire chief beginning June 1, pending formal council consideration.
The Chair read an announcement naming Austin Blackham as acting fire chief effective June 1 and said the council will put the formal appointment on a future meeting agenda. The announcement said Austin currently serves in the department and will assume leadership responsibilities on an interim basis while the council evaluates a permanent appointment.
Councilors expressed appreciation for the department’s leadership and for the person stepping into the interim role. One council member described Austin as a captain and noted family circumstances affecting other staff; several members said they would send a formal letter to Austin to document the interim assignment and expectations pending the vote.
No formal vote on the permanent appointment took place at the May 12 meeting; staff said they will notify firefighters and prepare a formal appointment item for an upcoming meeting.
