From the Post and Courier: Charleston (S.C.) Fire Chief Thomas Carr plans to retire as of March 1, 2012.

Carr — FIRE CHIEF’s 2010 Career Fire Chief of the Year — was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a few years ago. His physician recently determined he has a more serious condition known as Multiple Systems Atrophy that is similar to Parkinson's but progresses more quickly. The new diagnosis would require him to retire, according to a letter Mayor Joseph P. Riley wrote to City Council dated today.

Carr took over as fire chief in November 2008, taking the reins of a department still grieving and rebuilding from the Sofa Super Store blaze that killed nine city firefighters the year before. The challenge appealed to him, as did the chance to make a difference, he said.