BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. () — Bryan County has notified News 3 that Matt Burns, who served as the Bryan County Fire & Rescue (BCFR) chief for under a year, is no longer with BCFR. Anthony Van Es has stepped in as the interim fire chief.

The county issued a statement saying, “Bryan County is fully devoted to delivering top-notch services to its citizens above all else, ensuring Bryan County Fire and Rescue reaches its maximum potential. This potential is achievable through teamwork and collaboration with the Bryan County Emergency Management Agency and other county departments, along with effective resource management. Bryan County is proud of the commitment and efforts of every Fire and Rescue team member and sees even greater potential for the department to achieve its objectives.”

A report from the Savannah Morning News, dated Aug. 15, indicates that Burns’ personnel file, accessed through an open records request, notes that his last working day was Aug. 6, and that he was separated during a probationary period. The file did not specify the reason for his departure.