Knoxville Interim Fire Chief Greg Higginbotham has essentially been selected as a finalist for the Knoxville Fire Chief position. City Manager Harold Stewart says that Higginbotham will be going through the same process that finalists for the position went through last month. He has been given the materials needed in order to take a comprehensive exam in three weeks’ time. He’ll then be interviewed, much like the other finalists were last month. Stewart says if he passes the comprehensive exam, the Council will have further discussions on whether to make Higginbotham permanent chief.

After the preferred candidate pulled his name out of the running last month, there has been a groundswell of public support for Higginbotham to be named the permanent chief from Fire and Rescue Department members as well as from City Council members. City code stipulates that the City Manager appoint the fire chief, with the City Council approving the appointment.

Stewart notes that he wants to keep the process fair, which is why he’s having Higginbotham go through the same process the other finalists did.