Byram Mayor Appoints 7-Year Department Veteran as Acting Fire Chief

BYRAM, Miss. (WLBT) – A seven-year veteran of the Byram Fire Department has been hired to take the reins of the department as its next chief.

On Thursday, Byram Mayor Richard White said Harry Horton had been appointed to the position on an interim basis.

White said he would like Horton to take on the role full time, but before appointing him, he wants the Board of Aldermen to get to know him and the department's plans.

“He’s our training manager. He's a captain. He’s already a grant writer,” he said. “I kind of want him to be chief.”

White said Horton was responsible for helping the city secure a grant to staff a new fire station on the Hinds County Parkway, which was built following the city's recent annexation.

“We welcomed around 170 households and were encouraged to build a new station [to improve our fire rating]”said the mayor.

Three firefighters are permanently present at this station. The station also has a secure room that can accommodate around 60 people in the event of severe weather.

In total, the department has around 25 firefighters, spread across two stations.

Horton follows Fred Green, who recently retired.

For his part, Green had 30 years of service and had been with Byram since its inception, serving as deputy chief before taking on the department's top role.

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