Chesterfield County's fire chief is retiring.

Paul W. Mauger, who has been chief of Fire and Emergency Medical Services since March 2005, will retire Sept. 1.

He has served with the department for 31 years, first as a dispatcher. He was appointed interim chief in November 2004 after Stephen A. Elswick retired, and he was named chief in March 2005.

The department has 461 employees and 350 volunteers who work at 20 fire stations and nine rescue stations.

"Chief Mauger is a professional in every sense of the word, and will leave his department in outstanding condition," said County Administrator James J. L. Stegmaier. "He has served honorably and well, and leaves a noteworthy legacy as he enters retirement."