By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - After nearly 33 years at the Erlanger Fire and EMS Department, Chief Bill Martin is moving on - though he can't say how far he's going.

"I'm not able to commit to anything yet," he said "I will probably be involved in fire and EMS somewhere."

Martin, 53, has applied for the top job at the Hebron Fire Protection District in Boone County.

But he would not say Tuesday whether he had gotten the job. Hebron fire board officials could not be reached for comment.

That department has been without a chief since December, when Dale Harshbarger, 42, resigned from the department citing health reasons and job stress. He had been on a leave of absence for a month.

Today is Martin's last day as chief of the Erlanger department he has been a part of since 1971. He announced his retirement last week.

In addition to being chief at Erlanger for 12 years, Martin has also served as chief of the Point Pleasant Fire Department and as a state fire marshal.

Martin began his fire career at Erlanger as a volunteer. He became the city's first paid firefighter when he was hired in 1979 as fire investigator. He then served as a state fire marshal from 1988 to 1991, working in Frankfort while living and volunteering in Erlanger.

He was then chief of Point Pleasant in Boone County in 1991 and 1992, then returned to Erlanger as chief.

The department now has 15 full-time staff, 30 part-time and 90 volunteers. Hebron has a paid staff of about 30.

Today Martin will "clear out a bunch of old files" and work with Tim Koenig, who will serve as interim chief, to ease the transition.

Martin, who lives in Erlanger, said he will still be involved.

"I'll still be affiliated with Erlanger," Martin said. "I've got too many friends here."

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com