ALBEMARLE — Back in February, the Albemarle Fire Department announced that Kenny Kendall Jr. had been named as the department’s interim fire chief when former leader Pierre Brewton left to join his hometown fire department in Spartanburg, SC.
Half a year later, Kendall’s interim title has been dropped as he has been given the full-time fire chief position for the department following the conclusion of a hiring process.
He is now responsible for the daily business operations and planning of the department, as well as overseeing a $3.6 million annual budget.
“I’m honored to lead the Albemarle Fire Department, where I’ve spent my entire career,” Kendall said in a city press release. “With more than 30 years of experience in tactical operations, personnel management, and administration, I’m eager to apply my knowledge and continue advancing our department’s mission of keeping our community safe. I recognize the immense responsibility that comes with being fire chief, and I’m grateful for the trust that has been placed in me.”
Kendall has been with the AFD since 1994, working his way up the ranks and becoming a captain in 2005 and battalion chief in 2011.
In 2022, he became the city’s first-ever assistant fire chief — a role that provided him with opportunities to work with budgets, payroll, and personnel management — before he took on the position of interim chief on March 18, 2024.
He is responsible for creating the award-winning City of Albemarle Firefighter Cadet Academy, which has thrived with Region of Excellence honors in the category of Cross Community Collaboration from the Centralina Regional Council.
Since 2021, the academy has trained new members of Albemarle’s department and other local firefighters. In collaboration with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Stanly Community College, the academy hosts 18 weeks of instruction through classroom and hands-on training led by AFD firefighters and special-skilled instructors.
This past spring, the academy celebrated its fourth graduating class, with three new firefighters joining Albemarle Fire, and other graduates joining East Side Volunteer Fire Department and Fairview Fire and Rescue Department.
“Kenny Kendall earned his opportunity to lead the Albemarle Fire Department based on much more than just years of experience,” said Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark, who announced Kendall’s promotion at a recent Push In Ceremony celebrating the new Fire Engine 2. “Through a rigorous evaluation process, Chief Kendall demonstrated impressive leadership qualities and a strong vision for the future of the Albemarle Fire Department. I look forward to seeing Chief Kendall lead AFD with the highest standards of service and professionalism for our community.”
Kendall has participated in the NC Association of Fire Chiefs Executive Development Program and NC Association of Fire Chiefs Training Management Programs; he is currently pursuing his Associate Degree in Fire Technology at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
As a lifelong resident of Stanly County, he began his service at the age of 12 as a junior firefighter, going on to volunteer as a firefighter for 39 years.
Kendall was named to the county’s Consolidated Human Services board by the Stanly County Board of Commissioners last November.