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Lamar fire chief Dave Shipper announces retirement; five to be sworn in Aug. 18
Summary
Fire Chief Dave Shipper told the Lamar City Council it will be his final meeting in the role and said five staff — including a new chief and assistant chief — will be sworn in at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 18. Shipper thanked staff and recounted recent calls and department changes.
Dave Shipper, the city’s fire chief, told the Lamar City Council on Aug. 4 that this meeting would be his last as chief after a 38‑year career.
"Other than that, this is my last council meeting as fire chief," Shipper said, and announced that five people — the chief, a new assistant chief, a new battalion chief and two newly paid firefighters — will be sworn in at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 18. He said the recent budget provided for hiring two paid staff who will come off probation and described a recent five‑hour response to burning hay bales as an example of the kind of calls the department handles.
Shipper thanked current and former council members, department staff and two city attorneys for their support during his tenure. He said the merger of the city’s fire and EMS services and investments in training and equipment have left the department "in a good position" to train successors.
The remarks came during the public comment portion of the council meeting, when Shipper also noted that some recruits and promotions occurred through interviews and past hiring decisions. The council did not take formal action on personnel at this meeting; Shipper’s announcement serves as public notice of the Aug. 18 swearing‑in activity.
