Charles City interim fire chief on predecessor’s exit, hiring timeline

(ABC 6 News) – Charles City is looking at a 6-month to one-year timeline to hire its next fire chief, interim chief Marty Parcher said Monday.

Parcher, a 23-year firefighter and 30-year first responder, retired from the Charles City force in May. However, he was called back in after former fire chief Eric Whipple put in his notice with the city, he said.

Whipple left the Charles City Fire Department on Nov. 2 to become the emergency management coordinator for Cerro Gordo County.

Parcher said his experience with the city’s fire department and related organizations should keep things “running smoothly” until a new fire chief is found.