CARY, NC – M. Wayne House is retiring from the Town of Cary after directing the community’s fire safety efforts for 29 years. His last day of employment with the Town will be December 31, 2002. Deputy Fire Chief Allan Cain will be named Interim Fire Chief, effective January 1, 2003, and will serve in that post while the Town conducts a national search for a new chief.

When House joined the Town of Cary in 1973, Cary’s population was around 7,000 and the fire department had one station and twelve staff. Today’s Cary has over 103,000 citizens and a nationally accredited fire department with six stations and 215 staff.

House was promoted to fire chief in September of 1993.

"Wayne has done a fine job for the community, and we hate to see him go," said Cary Town Manager Bill Coleman.

Regarding his retirement, House, 55, said he was really going to miss "all the great people at the Town of Cary" but that he was looking forward to spending time with his new bride, Shirley, whom he married this weekend. "I guess it’s good that leaving the Town is so hard because it means that the time here has been so great," said House. A photo of House is available.

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