The City of Ames is staying home to find its next fire chief. In a news release, they city says Interim Fire Chief Rich Higgins will get the job permanently. Higgins became a city employee in 2000 with the Public Works department and joined the fire service in 2002. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2006 and served as a shift commander from 2009 to 2012 before being promoted to deputy chief. Higgins was appoined interim chief when former chief Shawn Bayouth resigned in April to join the faculty of Arkansas State University. Higgins will oversee 58 firefighters at three stations, as well as 13 housing inspections staffers. His first official day as chief is September 1st.