ROCK SPRINGS – With Jim Wamsley accepting the position as the new Rock Springs Fire Chief, Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 will begin the search for a new leader.

The Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 Board met on Tuesday to discuss the process they would use to fill the vacancy. Assistant Chief Scott Kitchner sat down with SweetwaterNOW to explain the process.

The board will start advertising the position with a Feb. 28 deadline for all interested applicants to have applications in.

The applications will then be presented to a five-person panel where they will be reviewed, background checks done and interviews set up with the top candidates. The panel will include one board member, the District’s accountant, Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell, a Bureau of Land Management representative and former Chief Jim Wamsley.

Kitchner will assume the duties of Chief until a new one is put into place. He said the district is in a unique position because they do not have to rush to fill the position. He explained the panel and board can take the time needed to pick the best candidate for the Chief position.

On Tuesday, Wamsley had high praises for the Fire District No. 1 Board, other paid staff and all the volunteers he served with at the district.

“It has been an honor to serve with everyone at Fire District No. 1,” he said. “They have instilled in me a reverence about this job and serve as role models for doing the right things for the right reasons.”