Temple Fire Chief Mitch Randles retires after 40-year career
Chief reflects on four decades of service, from Missouri grass fires to Temple tornado response
TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) - Temple Fire Chief Mitch Randles is retiring after 40 years in fire service.
Randles, 60, said helping people in need has driven him throughout his career.
“That’s my full-time passion,” Randles said. “Quite honestly, 40 years snuck up on me. You kind of look back and go, ‘Wow, where did time go?’”
From volunteer to chief
Randles’ fire service career started in 1986 in Missouri when he was 19 years old. He was fighting a grass fire near his family’s barn when a fire truck arrived to help.
“I remember how amazed I was by watching them do this and then just move on,” Randles said. “And it was shortly after that, just a couple weeks after that, as I thought about that, I went and started volunteering with that same department.”
Historic responses
During his career, Randles has responded to major disasters. As fire chief, he helped lead the response after the EF-5 tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, in May of 2011. In Temple, his biggest response was to the 2024 tornado.
But Randles said he will remember the smaller calls most.
“Making the medical calls at 2:00 in the morning or just helping that person that’s having that worst day in their life,” Randles said. “Those are the things that are really, I think, special as well, because you get to help citizens that you don’t know and try to make their lives better.”
Looking ahead
Randles said his family has sacrificed for his fire service career, and he is ready to give back to them.
“My family has given so much to the fire service and to my career. And so I’m looking to finally start giving back,” Randles said.
He is looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren.
“I’ve got a couple of grandchildren and I’m looking at spending a lot more time with them. Instead of being, ‘Chief Randles’, being just ‘Papa’,” Randles said.
Assistant Chief Landy Setzer will serve as acting Temple fire chief as the city begins a nationwide search for a new chief.
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