Jake Williams is Concord’s newFire Chief, effective May 1. He has 20 years of experience with the City of Concord and will lead the Fire Department after Chief Ray Allen retires. City Manager Lloyd Payne said Williams has a distinguished record that “will ensure the Fire Department is ready for the current and future needs of the City.”

He began as a firefighter in 1999, and moved up to captain and battalion chief before becoming deputy chief in 2014. In that role he managed daily operations for the department, contributing to the budget and strategic planning.

As fire chief, he will direct over 210 people and manage a budget exceeding $22.5 million.