The Board of Commissioners of the Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area recently announced that Robert J. Staples has been named chief, Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD), effective Dec. 9.

Chief Staples replaces Chief Bryan G. Riebe, who is retiring following 17 years of service with GMFD. Riebe has accepted the position of recruitment and retention grant coordinator with the South Carolina State Firefighters Association.

“We are very grateful to Chief Riebe for his outstanding service to our community during his tenure with Glassy Mountain Fire Department,” said Dennis Geagan, chairman, board of commissioners, Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area. “Chief Riebe was the first career chief of the GMFD. Under his leadership, the department went from an ISO Class 9 district to an ISO Class 4 rating providing reduced insurance costs for residents. The department has grown into five stations with 22 pieces of apparatus, a career staff of 11 and nearly 50 volunteer firefighters and first responders. We wish him great success as he embarks on his new career.”

Prior to being named to his new position, Staples served as Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director for the City of Deltona Fire Department, Deltona, Fla. for five years.  He joined the Deltona Fire Department in 1991.

A graduate of Warner University, Lake Wales, Fla., Staples received a bachelor of arts degree in organizational management; and a master of science in management and administration of educational programs. He is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program with the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.

Staples will relocate to the area over the next month; his wife Laurie, a speech language pathologist, will relocate at the end of the school year.

– article submitted by Sharyn Arnold