Outgoing Fire and Rescue Department Chief Cedric Scott named the new interim chief and interim deputy chief at the Board of Commissioners work session and meeting Tuesday morning.

Battalion chief Joel Yoder will serve as interim chief and Lt. Dan Morgan will serve as interim deputy chief when Scott leaves Friday for an assistant chief position in the city of Savannah.

Initially, current deputy chief Mike Lee was slated to be interim chief, but Scott explained Lee would be soon retiring. Scott said he wanted to avoid the possibility of the BOC having to name another interim chief before the official chief was found.

"It's just trying to make sure we have continuity and that we have leadership in place to ensure residents services will not be affected just because I'm leaving," said Scott.

Yoder has about three decades of experience with the Rockdale County Fire Department and Morgan, a station officer, has about 10 years of experience, said Scott.