Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) Deputy Chief Joseph Hillhouse was recently named interim fire chief following Joe Dixon’s recent resignation.

According to a city of Gainesville memorandum from City Manager Cynthia Curry to the Gainesville City Commission, Hillhouse will assume the interim chief position starting in November as the city conducts a national search for Dixon’s replacement.

Hillhouse has 21 years of experience since joining GFR in 2003. The native of Live Oak has risen through the ranks from fire marshal to assistant fire chief to deputy fire chief. He will oversee GFR’s nine fire stations and approximately 190 professionals in the agency.

Hillhouse earned his Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services from UF and a master’s degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Dixon, who originally said he would step down from his role as chief on Sept. 20 and has served as the GFR fire chief since 2021, has he will stay through Nov. 1. He will then move to his home state of Maryland where he has accepted the position as chief of the Baltimore County Fire Department where he will be closer to his family.