Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: PG fire chief retiring Date: Fri, 30 Oct 92 15:33:28 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD PG fire chief retiring \SH Predecessor will be replacement \BY Jim Keary \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Prince George's County Fire Chief Steven T. Edwards announced yesterday he will retire Dec. 31 to serve as director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. The county's director of public safety and former fire chief, M.H. Jim Estepp, will replace Chief Edwards, County Executive Parris Glendening said. The Public Safety Department will be reduced, and the director's job will not be filled, Mr. Glendening said. "Half of me wants to stay in the Fire Department; it's been my love," Chief Edwards said. "I started as a 16-year-old volunteer, . . . and I've been here ever since. I've loved every day of it. I am also very excited about the challenges before me." The announcement came within a week of the resolution of a conflict between the county department and volunteers at the Oxon Hill Volunteer Fire Department, but Chief Edwards said his retirement had nothing to do with that incident. He said he applied for early retirement in January and applied at the institute in July. Chief Edwards became temporary fire chief when Mr. Estepp was appointed director of public safety in 1989. Chief Edwards' position became permanent Jan. 9, 1990. Mr. Glendening also announced that Col. Lemuel Roberts will fill a new position as chief deputy to Mr. Estepp and named acting Col. Karl Granzow as deputy chief for special operations. In his new position, Chief Edwards, 41, will head the 63-year-old institute, which provides training in fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the state's firefighters and rescue personnel. The institute is part of the University of Maryland's College Park campus. Chief Edwards was chosen from 67 applicants in a nationwide search to replace the current director, John W. Hoglund, who will become a senior instructor at the institute. "I am delighted with this appointment," said William E. Kirwan, president of the University of Maryland at College Park. "Chief Edwards has shown great leadership as chief of the Prince George's County Fire Department. He understands the issues facing [the institute] extremely well and will bring the same leadership skills to the position of director." Ron Milor, the president of Prince George's County Professional Firefighters, said Chief Edwards will be missed. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM