The City of Emporia has announced an early succession plan for Fire Chief Jack Taylor, who is officially retiring at the end of the year.
Current Assistant Fire Chief Brandon Beck will take over the department on an interim basis. Beck joined Emporia Fire as a volunteer firefighter in May 1993. He was then hired as a full-time firefighter and EM Tin 1998 before being promoted to paramedic/firefighter in 2001. Beck was promoted to Assistant Chief in 2007.
Beck says he is excited for the opportunity to lead the department and credited many of his mentors, including Chief Taylor, for preparing him to step into the position.
Beck says being a native Emporian will be a major advantage for him as he prepares to step into his new role.
Taylor has served 21 years as Emporia’s fire chief. Before that, he was Liberal’s fire chief for eight years and was the associate program manager for the University of Kansas’ Fire and Rescue Training Institute. The city currently plans to advertise for a permanent fire chief in March. Chief Taylor will join KVOE’s Morning Show at 8:20 am to discuss his impending retirement and career.
KVOE News reporter Tagan Trahoon contributed to this report.
