The details
Burnside was first appointed as interim fire chief in 2024 after former Fire Chief Todd Morgan resigned from his role. During his tenure as interim chief, the city council worked on establishing hiring procedures for department heads.
Mayor Pro Tem and Place 4 council member Wendy Gonzalez said Burnside’s tenure has increased morale within the department and forged stronger bonds between city council and the fire department.
“[The city council] really [does] appreciate him, and we've seen the change in morale. Obviously he has outstanding support from within his department, which speaks volumes, and from within this community,” Gonzalez said. “We are just very grateful for you. I could go on and on about your accomplishments, and we're just darn proud to have you.”
Gonzalez also thanked the town for their patience as the city council worked to revise its hiring procedures and went through the hiring process.
“I appreciate the patience of the town, the fire department, and Chief Burnside as we established a process and went through it in order to get here. And I think that he's well worth the wait,” Gonzalez said.
