The Town of Rolesville is moving forward with three finalists in the recruitment process to hire a Fire Chief.
The three finalists were selected after a nationwide search that began in July, then the Town brought on the Executive Search Firm PoliHire to conduct the search. Applications opened July 21, 2025. The Town and PoliHire gathered information via surveys to Fire Department members, Board of Commissioners, and Town leadership. The survey participants shared what they think are the important characteristics of the Fire Department’s top leader.
The Town and PoliHire used that information to identify the most qualified candidates. Applicants were screened, and the Town Manager and the Interim Human Resources Director selected the final three candidates. The candidates all have served in Fire Department leadership roles.
The three finalists will appear at a public forum on Friday, November 21, 2025, giving members of the public an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates. The moderated event will be held at the C. Frank Eagles Board room, located at 502 Southtown Circle, Rolesville, NC beginning at 6:00 PM. During the forum the candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and answer questions submitted by the public.
The public forum is not a voting event, and no votes will be taken from residents. The purpose of the forum is to give community members the chance to meet the finalists, hear their perspectives, and learn about their experience. While community input is valued, the final hiring decision will be made solely by the Town Manager, as required by Town policy. Feedback gathered from the public will be shared with the Town Manager for consideration, but the forum does not determine the selection of the next Fire Chief.
The list of candidates was pared down to the three finalists listed alphabetically:
Dustin Arnold
Dustin Arnold has more than 20 years of progressive fire service experience, including command officer leadership roles. He is currently a Fire Captain with the Wake Forest Fire Department. Arnold holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science and will complete his Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire and Emergency Services Administration in 2026. He is experienced in founding new programs, managing department growth, and aligning policies with long-term goals through inter-agency cooperation and strategic planning. He has expertise in personnel supervision, budgeting, and equipment acquisition.
Jacob Butler
Jacob Butler has more than 25 years of progressive fire service experience, including as Division Chief for the Rolesville Rural Fire Department. He is currently the Interim Fire Chief for the Town of Rolesville Fire Department. His professional affiliations include the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the North Carolina State Firefighters Association.
Jason Deitch
Jason Deitch brings 27 years of progressive experience in the fire service, highlighted by his current role as Assistant Fire Chief at the Town of Garner. He has guided teams through emergency operations, administrative decision-making, and strategic leadership initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Administration and completed the Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy.
The community is asked to submit potential questions to the candidates. Questions can be emailed to humanresources@rolesvillenc.gov.
