The City of Bristol, Tennessee announced this week that Fire Chief Robert (Bob) Barnes will be retiring after 43 years of service to the city and its citizens. Chief Barnes’ last day will be December 18, 2017.
Chief Barnes embarked on his career in the fire service on November 4, 1974. Born in Bristol, Barnes has steadfastly served the community that raised him. He graduated from Tennessee High School and received his B.S. in Business Administration in 1979. He received a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification in 1988, and operated a tax preparation and advising business from 1981 until 2007.
Chief Barnes has been active on the local, state, and federal level of the fire service for most of his extensive career. In 1981, Barnes was promoted to Lieutenant, then to Captain in 1995, and achieved the rank of Battalion Chief in 2001. In March of 2007, he was named as the department’s new Fire Chief. Barnes has overseen the department’s recent designation as an internationally accredited agency by The Commission of Fire Accreditation International, which places Bristol as one of only five fire departments in Tennessee to obtain this prestigious award. He has also overseen the construction of the new Fire Station #5, which will open in the coming weeks.
Bristol Tennessee City Manager Bill Sorah said of Chief Barnes retirement, “Chief Barnes will retire with the knowledge that the fire department, under his leadership, is operating at the highest level of professionalism, and perhaps as importantly, the morale of the department staff I believe is at the highest level in my memory. His leadership will be missed by all.”
Chief Barnes will be honored with a reception that is open to the public on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Station #1 located at 211 Bluff City Highway from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Firefighters who have served alongside Chief Barnes throughout his career, as well as family and friends, are invited to join in bidding farewell to a gentleman who has served the city well for more than four decades.
