OTTAWA – Capt. Tim Matthias will be promoted to the position of assistant Ottawa fire chief, effective Saturday. Matthias will succeed Richard Oglesby, who is retiring after 33 years of service. Matthias, rural Pomona, has 23 years of experience as a firefighter, with 17 years in the Ottawa Fire Department. Matthias has starting working alongside Oglesby to learn the specific tasks associated with the daily operations of the fire department, Fire Chief Jeff Carner said. He has an associate’s degree in emergency medical science and will soon obtain a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University in fire science. He is a certified fire officer, EMS training officer, paramedic, and holds certification as an associate instructor with the Kansas University Fire/Rescue School. As assistant chief, his duties will include fire training, being fire marshal and supervising the department’s fire investigators, public information officer, and planning, Carner said.
Wednesday, June 4, 3 p.m.
