When Mike Casson joined the Cottonwood Fire Department as chief 17 years ago, he was looking for change.

After 20 years as a firefighter and chief officer throughout Maricopa County and Knox County, Tenn., the Kingman native wanted to return home to Northern Arizona, raise his family and spend time closer to relatives.

He got that change and more. When Casson walks out of the station for the last time as chief Wednesday, May 23, he will leave a fire department that looks and operates dramatically different than it did when he arrived.

During his time as chief, the fire department has gone from what he describes as a “small-community, rural fire department” to “state-of-the art, well-staffed, well-equipped fire department that has stayed up to date with the growth of the community.”

For the full story, see the Wednesday, May 23, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.