Mt. Juliet fire chief Jamie Luffman to retire

Chief Jamie Luffman of the Fire Department of Mt. Juliet will retire effective March 3.

Mt. Juliet Deputy Fire Chief Joey Edwards will serve as the interim fire chief, Luffman said.

“I’ve got opportunities today that may not be present in the future,” Luffman said. “I noticed I had the right people in the right places and if I didn’t wake up tomorrow the fire department would be well set for success in the future.

“I’m grateful to the city manager and city commissioners … for giving me the opportunity to put the right people in the right places so that fire department will be successful going into the future.”

Luffman, 58 has been with the Mt. Juliet fire department since 2013 — when the city restarted the department for the first time since 1986.

Luffman became chief in 2014. Luffman, the former assistant chief, succeeded former Tennessee Titans tight end Erron Kinney, who was named Mt. Juliet's chief when the department was reinstated.

Luffman wasn’t specific about his next career move, but plans to remain in Mt. Juliet.

A new fire station is being built on Mt. Juliet's north side — North Greenhill Road, across from Green Hill High School. Luffman estimates the station will be ready to open around mid-March. Mt. Juliet has stations on the southern end and middle portions of the city.

Mt. Juliet has also announced plans to launch its own ambulance division that also is expected to become operational in the coming weeks, Luffman added.

“He’s not leaving us with a department in any way that is falling apart," Mt. Juliet Mayor James Maness said. "We’re firing away on all cylinders. He deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mt. Juliet's fire chief is ready to let someone else be in charge