Fire department has new fire chief

Brian Watson is the new assistant fire chief for the Bonne Terre Fire Department.

Watson replaces Chris Thurman, who resigned from the position, but will stay on with the fire department.

Watson works full time as a registered nurse/paramedic with the Ste. Genevieve Ambulance District. He has been a registered nurse since 1989 and has been a firefighter since 1990.

Watson is an instructor at the Mineral Area College Fire Academy and also teaches trauma classes for area hospitals.