Captain Orlando Battle will be Indianola’s new fire chief beginning April 16. Battle is a 24-year veteran of the fire department having joined in October of 1994, immediately after graduating high school, at the age of 18.
In addition to being a certified firefighter, Battle has certifications in rope rescue, fire ground leadership and driver operations. He also has certificates in hazardous material technology, bomb/terrorism technology and weapons of mass destruction. Plus he formerly served as a fire inspector for Sunflower County.
In a brief interview on Tuesday, Battle expressed his gratitude to the mayor and board of aldermen for the confidence they showed in him by appointing him to the position and giving him the opportunity to move the department forward. He surmised his appointment to be a new day and a new beginning for the department.
Although he has not named any specifics, Battle promises a lot of changes for the department citing that improving staff morale would be at the top of his list of things to do.
As chief, Battle has the authority to name a new assistant but said if the current assistant chief is willing, they can work together.
