IT APPEARS THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES LEFT IN THE RUNNING!

WHO SHOULD HEAD THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION?

Fox 26 News has learned the Houston Fire Department may be one step closer to a new Fire Chief in a matter of weeks. This comes as sources in the department say Mayor Annise Parker has gone from 25 candidates in the search for the top guy to two people now.

Our sources say on that list is acting HFD Fire Chief Rick Flanagan and another candidate from out of state. That man has been identified as former Oceanside, Ca. Fire Chief Terry Garrison.

Garrison abruptly left the Oceanside fire department back in 2009 citing personal reasons.

Garrison, according to the North County Times in California, was traveling back and forth to Phoenix, Arizona during his tenure as chief in Oceanside.

The veteran firefighter also served as an assistance chief in Phoenix and still had family there according to the City Manager in Oceanside.

Garrison didn't give any specifics in his letter of resignation to firefighters in the department.

A call to Mayor Parker's spokesperson resulted in this short statement:

"we don’t have a short list, but she’ll make the announcement in the next week or so…"

However, that statement from the Mayor's office directly contradicts what Parker allegedly told the head of the Houston Firefighters' (Local 341) Union Jeff Caynon just a week ago. In a newsletter to his members Caynon Writes:

Regarding the fire chief search, I reiterated that most Local 341 members believe there are well qualified candidates within HFD to lead the department. The Mayor said she has reduced the list of 25 applicants to two finalists. One finalist is from within HFD and the other is from outside the state, she said. I believe the fire chief announcement will be made by the Mayor very shortly."

If you put all the pieces together the Houston Fire Department could have a new chief in place at the beginning of September. Who do you think should be the next Fire Chief at HFD?