Tom Joyce/The News
Zane Poindexter stands beside a Mount Airy Fire Department truck Friday afternoon, shortly after his appointment as city fire chief was announced.
Zane D. Poindexter, who is already a resident of Mount Airy, officially will join the department on July 26, according to Interim City Manager Barbara Jones, who hired the new chief.
Before accepting the position, Poindexter, 37, served as assistant fire marshal with the city of Winston-Salem. He has worked in a fire-service capacity for the past 16 years, which includes employment with the Mount Airy Fire Department in various positions from 1996 through August 2006 including firefighter, fire engineer and fire captain.
“With his experience in this department, his certifications and training along with his community involvement, I feel he will provide excellent leadership to this department and our community,” Jones said of Poindexter.
“I am glad to have Zane as part of our team.”
Poindexter said in an interview Friday that he considers his appointment as fire chief a “tremendous” opportunity to serve his community.
“It’s just a wonderful honor to be able to come back and serve the citizens of the town I love,” Poindexter said of his return to the Mount Airy Fire Department. “It’s just a tremendous opportunity that I look forward to.”
Poindexter, who was born and raised in Surry County, holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science, with a concentration in management, from Fayetteville State University. He also earned an associate degree in applied science in fire-protection technology from Guilford Technical Community College.
In addition, he has logged numerous continuing-education hours in fire protection and management. Poindexter holds Level III fire-inspection certification and is a certified fire and explosion investigator.
Poindexter resides here with his wife, Lori, and their two sons, Holden and Avery.
He said Friday that he is focused on providing “the highest level” of fire protection to Mount Airy citizens. “I’m solely focused on customer service,” he said.
Another of his goals involves developing “creative ideas” to allow the fire department to adequately serve the community in the present recessionary period. He said it is important to be fiscally responsible, while recognizing that new equipment and facilities might be needed at some point in the future.
“These things will be addressed as the funds are available,” he said.
Poindexter was one of about 20 applicants for the post that became available with the April 13 resignation of Chip Osborne, who served less than five months on the job. There were reports that Osborne was forced to resign by Jones, who has not commented publicly about the reasons for his departure.
A member of the city board of commissioners has said that Jones simply advised the board “that there were issues with the direction in which the department was headed.”
Getting all department members back on a positive footing is among his priorities, Poindexter said in addressing how he will deal with any fallout regarding the circumstances behind Osborne’s resignation.
“It can pose some difficulties, like for morale,” Poindexter said. “I’m going to focus on building morale.”
In the absence of a chief, the Mount Airy Fire Department has been led by three shift captains, Trey Leonard, Chris Fallaw and Danny Vipperman.
No promotions or other personnel changes have been announced in conjunction with Poindexter’s appointment. He said the department’s organizational structure will remain unchanged at this point.
Poindexter said there is a level of comfort in being able to work in the city where he learned to love the fire service and now will be able to grow along with the department.
“I’m very familiar with the organization,” he said of the unit that has about 20 full-time and 17 part-time personnel.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.
Post a Comment
