Charles Middleton will be the next chief of the Savannah (Ga.) Fire Department, according to Savannah City Manager Michael Brown. Middleton currently is a division chief with the Orange County (Fla.) Fire and Rescue Department, where he supervises a 1,000-member fire and emergency medical service with 35 stations serving 1,000 square miles around Orlando.

Prior to the 12 years he was with the Florida department, Middleton spent 16 years with the Arlington County (Va.) Fire Department. He takes command of the Savannah department on Aug. 7.