Veteran of city’s fire department takes the helm after serving as interim chief since March
Ashland.news staff report
Ashland officials named Marshall Rasor the permanent fire chief of Ashland Fire & Rescue on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
In a Tuesday Facebook post, city officials wrote that Rasor has served Ashland in every capacity — from firefighter to chief — over the last 22 years. Rasor took the helm as an interim in March after Ralph Sartain, longtime chief, retired. He had been the department’s operations chief before stepping into the interim role.
Rasor, who worked his way up the ranks, said in a Tuesday press release from the city that he was “deeply grateful” to be selected as permanent chief. Rasor’s appointment as department chief comes after a nationwide search, according to city officials.
Rasor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mayor Tonya Graham said in the city’s press release that Rasor brings “strong experience” and a “deep commitment” to serving Ashland as head of department, which provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city and surrounding areas.
With a $12.6 million annual budget and 45 permanent employees, Ashland Fire & Rescue also operates ambitious risk reduction programs, including its fire marshal, wildfire mitigation, fire adapted and smoke protection programs.
According to published city salary records, $152,464 is listed as the fire chief’s salary for 2025-26, with a 2% increase slated for July 1, 2026.
A public badge-pinning ceremony will be held for Rasor and other city employees who have been promoted at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Carpenter Hall in Ashland.
Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at stevem@ashland.news.
