On Friday, August 14, Sandersville Fire Chief Russell Riner publicly announced his upcoming retirement via a post to social media.
His retirement will move into effect on October 30.
Chief Riner has been a member of the fire service for 44 years, including 21 years as Sandersville Fire Chief.
He is a lifelong resident of the City of Sandersville and a third generation firefighter for the City. Riner’s service follows his father, Barney Riner, a firefighter of 50 years, and his grandfather, W.O. Riner, a firefighter of 18 years.
Russell Riner is a graduate of the Washington County High School and Georgia Southern University. He is state certified as a firefighter and emergency management director.
“Working with the most professional, dedicated, and committed firefighters around has made this tour one of the most rewarding experiences in my life,” said Riner in his Facebook post.
Chief Riner joined the Sandersville Fire Department as a volunteer in 1976 . He was promoted to full time Fire Chief in 1999. The following year, he accepted the role of Washington County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director.
While stepping down from his role of Fire Chief, he plans to continue serving as the County’s EMA Director.
“A big thank you to the Mayor, City Council, my co-workers, our community, and mainly my family for allowing me to serve in this role,” said Fire Chief Russell Riner. “God Bless you all.”
The City of Sandersville is seeking to fill the role of next Fire Chief. The minimum requirements, applications, and a full job description may be found HERE.
Completed applications must be submitted by Wednesday, August 26.
The mission of the Sandersville Fire Department (SFD) is to preserve life, property, and the environment through public education, code management, and emergency response. The SFD is a member of the Washington County Firefighter’s Association and the Georgia State Firefighter’s Association.