Dennis Green, a 20-year Matthews employee who has headed the fire department and EMS operations on an interim basis this year, has been given the job on a full-time basis. Green was named interim chief in January, following the retirement of Trim Sawtelle.

Matthews Fire and EMS is a full-time department with both paid and volunteer members. Green, a Mecklenburg County native, worked as a paramedic for 16 years before coming to work with Matthews in 1991 as the EMS chief. He was named deputy chief of the combined fire-EMS department in 2008.