The City of Albemarle has a new interim fire chief.

The city appointed Ernie Hiers, who was most recently the fire chief for Kannapolis for 12 years, according to Albemarle City Manager Michael Ferris. Hiers retired as chief at the end of June.

Hiers, who began with the city Monday, has 39 years of firefighting experience in North Carolina and Florida, 31 of which involved him working as assistant fire chief or fire chief, Ferris said.

His time as interim chief will last until mid-December, Ferris said.

The city is still looking for a full-time fire chief and hopes to have one identified by late November to mid-December.

Ferris had been interim fire chief since May when Shawn Oke, who had been chief for nine years, retired.