After more than 45 years in the Fire Service, Chief William H. Ware has announced his retirement from the City of East Point Fire Department where he was appointed Fire Chief in 2015. As Fire Chief for the City of East Point, Chief Ware managed three Fire Stations and over 70 employees in a City of more than 35,000 residents. Recently, he successfully helped the City improve its ISO rating from a Classification of 4 to achieving a Class 1, which helps to improve insurance rates for residents and businesses in the City.

He entered the Fire Service after honorably completing a two-year commitment with the United States Army. Chief Ware has enjoyed an illustrious career in the Fire Service that spans close to 46 years beginning with the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue, and promoted up the ranks. He joined the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in 1972 as a Firefighter. Ware bypassed the rank of Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain in 1980 and was charged with planning and coordinating the daily activities of one Fire Station and ten personnel. Duties also included extinguishing structure fires in the West End section of Atlanta. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in 1987, with the responsibility of managing six Fire Stations, staffed by approximately 60 personnel. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in 1996 and directed five Battalions consisting of 30 Fire Stations with 360 Fire personnel.

Chief Ware joined the City of East Point Fire Department in August 2006 as Deputy Chief of Operations. He was tasked with coordinating day-to-day administrative, operational and budgetary activities for five Fire Stations and approximately 120 Firefighters. Chief Ware’s vision for the Fire Department included furthering the development of community involvement, focusing on the education and training of Fire Personnel, which enhanced the Department’s service to the community. In addition, Chief Ware was progressively dedicated to ensuring that the Department had the appropriate tools and equipment to deliver service. His vision also included creating a Cadet Program for High School Students, an emergency medical school for the City of East Point Fire Personnel and the building of a new Fire Station which includes a training facility for fire personnel and the community.

Chief Ware has a diploma in Accounting from Carroll Vocational Technical School. He has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science Technology, a B.S. Degree in Public Administration and extensive training in City Planning at Georgia State University. He has additional training from Atlanta Technical School, the Georgia Fire Academy and the National Fire Academy. Other professional accomplishments include: Emergency Medical Technician, National Fire Administration’s Chief Officer’s Designation, National Fire Incident Safety Officer Designation, and a host of professional certifications.

Chief Ware has been married for 39 years to Mrs. Beverly Ware. They have twin sons, one of whom is a Lieutenant with the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue. The other son is a Doctor of Pharmacy and Associate Professor of Pharmacy at South University in Columbia, South Carolina.

Chief Ware stated, “I had a good run! I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to serve two fire departments in two cities, the City of Atlanta and the City of East Point, both I consider as family.  Not many are blessed with such an opportunity. I leave with enough good memories to last another lifetime; my only regret is I don’t have another lifetime to serve.  My hope is twofold, one is that somewhere along the way I have said something or done something that has positively impacted the life or lives of others and that I leave the City of East Point better than I found it. Finally, to the firefighters, police officers and other city employees that I had the privilege of knowing and working with, I pray happiness and prosperity in your endeavors.  I thank the City Manager, the Mayor and Council of the City of East Point for entrusting me with the privilege of serving as Fire Chief of this great city.”