Mayor John Tecklenburg today announced that Assistant Chief Joseph Roberts will serve as Interim Chief for the Charleston Fire Department, effective Saturday, April 7, 2018.
The interim position became available last week, when current Interim Chief John Tippett accepted an offer to serve as Director of Fire Service Programs for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Chief Roberts will lead the department until Chief Daniel Curia officially takes over on July 30, 2018.
Mayor Tecklenburg said, “First, I'd like to thank Chief Tippett once again for his many years of remarkable service to our city, and to congratulate him as he begins his work with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Second, I'd like to thank Chief Roberts for agreeing to serve our city in this critical role. He possesses both the career experience and dedication to effectively lead the men and women of the Charleston Fire Department in the months ahead. I am extremely grateful for all he has done to serve the citizens of Charleston throughout his career, and look forward to working with him in this new capacity.”
Chief Roberts currently serves as Assistant Fire Chief for the city of Charleston Fire Department. He served as Fire Battalion Chief from 2006 to 2014, and as Shift Commander Fire Battalion Chief from 2014 to 2016, when he was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief. He has also served the department as a volunteer Auxiliary Firefighter (1983-1985), a Firefighter (1985-1990), an Assistant Engineer (1990-1993), a Fire Engineer (1993-1997), and a Captain (1997-2006).
Chief Roberts received his Associates Degree in Fire Science from Harold Washington University and was a charter member of the Hazmat Team and the Urban Search and Rescue Team. He currently serves as chairperson of the Charleston Fire Department’s Apparatus and Equipment Committee and oversees the Operations Division.