DFR Chief Burns Resigns

Dallas Fire-Rescue's Chief Eddie Burns resigned Friday after 5 years on the job.

In a memo released Friday, city manager Mary Suhm said Burns was leaving to pursue business opportunities, effective Sept. 1.

Suhm said the city will begin a search for a new chief in the coming weeks, but highlighted the department's 5-year Master Training Program that prepared incumbent members of the department for future leadership positions.

In the interim, the department will be led by Assistant Chief Louie Bright III.

The memo highlighted the chief's accomplishments during his tenure, including adding a paramedic to each fire house, improving training and implementing a 3-year equipment replacement program.

Burns had also been the subject of female employee complaints and lawsuits about alleged discrimination, all of which he denied. Both Burns and Suhm, who hired him, refused to say if the complaints and lawsuit had anything to do with his resignation.

Burns had been in fire service for 32 years.

NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report.

Contact Us