Long-time firefighter and interim Fayetteville Fire Chief Linda Black was recently named the city’s permanent fire chief at the Feb. 3 meeting of the Fayetteville City Council.
Chief Black, a 38-year fire service veteran, has been with the Fayetteville Fire Department for 25 years. She served as Deputy Chief until November 2021, when she was named interim Fire Chief, succeeding 24-year Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones, said city spokesman Danny Harrison.
Jones in November transitioned to a full-time Assistant City Manager role after serving a total of 33 years with the fire department.
“Chief Black has demonstrated her commitment to excellence over her 25-year career with Fayetteville,” said Jones. “She is highly respected and ready to lead a tremendous group of individuals. I have full confidence that Chief Black and her department will continue to serve our community at the highest levels possible, both now and into the future.”
Black started her fire service career with the Henry County Fire Department in 1984. In 1987, she joined the Fayette County Fire Department, where she served as a lieutenant for five years, according to the city’s website.
Chief Black joined the Fayetteville Fire Department as a fire inspector/educator in 1996. She served as the department’s training officer for a short time before her promotion to Deputy Fire Chief in 1998.
In addition to fire, Chief Black has a training background in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She is a state of Georgia Paramedic, a State Fire Academy Adjunct Instructor and Advanced Arson Investigator. She has also completed the UGA Management Development Program, according to the fire department’s website.
