FOLEY, Ala. — A new fire chief will be taking the reins of Foley Fire Department when the new year arrives.

Mayor John Koniar announced during Monday’s city council meeting that Joseph W. Darby has been selected as FFD’s new chief. Darby has been with the Auburn (Ala.) Public Safety Department/Fire Division for approximately 12 years. Council members moved unanimously to approve Darby’s selection.

Darby, whose salary will be $72,000 a year with the “standard benefits package,” according to Koniar, was described by the mayor as having a lot of experience in paid and volunteer firefighting.

Approximately 75 candidates initially applied for the vacant position, some from as faraway as Georgia and South Carolina, the mayor said. From that number, the council picked six candidates to interview. Those interviews, each lasting approximately an hour and a half, were conducted late last month and earlier this month.

“All of them were very impressive,” Koniar said of the six finalists for the job.

The fire chief position has been vacant since Jamie Hinton resigned in January 2008. Hinton was the city’s first full-time fire chief. He became chief in October 2002. Veteran FFD firefighter Lt. Chad Brewer has been acting chief since Hinton’s resignation.

Koniar said he expects Darby to be on the job in Foley by Jan. 5, 2009.

Darby is a battalion chief with the Auburn Fire Division.