Fire Chief Tim Rye to retire March 1; Matt McCracken named interim chief

HAMILTON — Hamilton Mayor Tami Lewis Williams announced the retirement of Hamilton Fire Chief Tim Rye during the city council’s Tuesday, Feb. 17, meeting.
"As some may know and others not, Tim Rye will retire as fire chief effective March 1, 2026,” she said.
“I move that Matthew McCracken be appointed as interim fire chief for the City of Hamilton, Alabama, effective March 1, 2026, for a temporary period of three (3) months, expiring on June 1, 2026, at his current rate of pay."
The city will be accepting applications and resumes at city hall through Friday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m., for the fire chief position. Applications can be picked up at city hall.
Rye has been in the fire service for 36 years, starting as a volunteer with Hamilton in 1990. He was hired full-time as a firefighter in 1996 and became fire chief in 2013.
McCracken became assistant fire chief that same year in 2013. He was  hired as a full-time firefighter in 2007. He had served as a volunteer firefighter beginning in 1994, but actually began his time in the fire service as a fire explorer in 1989.
Friends and coworkers will celebrate Rye with a reception on Friday, Feb. 27, from 5-7 p.m. at Xtra Events.