Matthaw Fire Chief Kinniburgh Steps Down After Five Decades

The Town of Matthews held a ceremony on Oct. 26 to honor Fire Chief Rob Kinniburgh for his decade of leadership. Kinniburgh is scheduled to retire at the end of October after nearly 50 years in fire and emergency services. Mayor John Higdon stated that 35 of those years were spent with the Charlotte Fire Department before Kinniburgh took the Matthews post.

During his tenure, the department opened Fire Station No. 3 at Matthews-Mint Hill Road last year. This new facility expanded the town's physical infrastructure for emergency response. The station serves as a base for crews operating in that sector of the municipality.

Kinniburgh also restructured the department's workforce. He shifted the model to include career, part-time, and volunteer members. Staffing levels increased by approximately 50 percent during his time in charge. This growth added 12 firefighters and three battalion chiefs to the roster.

The department achieved a Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office under his leadership. This is the highest rating available for fire departments. The designation reflects the quality of the town's fire protection capabilities.

Higdon described Kinniburgh as knowledgeable and dependable. He said the chief genuinely cares about the staff and the community. "We were incredibly fortunate to have someone with Rob's experience and reputation willing to bring his talents and leadership to Matthews," Higdon said.

Kinniburgh praised the staff for their work ethic and the citizens for their trust in the department. He highlighted the cooperative relationships built with other town departments and regional fire agencies. He noted that no employee ever refused a request by saying it was not their job.

Kinniburgh pointed to a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College as a future asset. The college is investing $100 million in a public safety training facility in Matthews. Town Manager Melia James told Kinniburgh that his contributions to public service were rare. She described him as a unicorn who would be difficult to replace.