Lorton Retires As Fire Marshal

— Fire Station No. 1 was filled with smiles and handshakes Friday as firemen gathered to celebrate Chris Lorton’s retirement.

Lorton has been with the fire service in Benton County for the past 28 years, 18 with the Bentonville Fire Department. His last day as Fire Marshal was Thursday.

Fire Chief Dan White thanked Lorton for his service to the city as he rubbed Lorton’s chin.

“Look at this,” White said, “one day out of the fire department and he’s already fuzzy. He’s already standing farther away from the razor.”

White said Lorton would be missed because of his knowledge of the state fire code and for his ability to work with people.

“Chris has a tremendous reputation in this state and out of this state for his competence, for his knowledge and for his way of doing business,” White said.

Lorton’s reputation as city fire marshal is what brought state Fire Marshal Lindsey Williams to Bentonville on Friday.

“I have worked with Chris for about six years now,” Williams said.

Lorton “is a wealth of knowledge in code issues. He has been an asset, not only to Bentonville, but to the state,” Williams said.

More than 60 people gathered to wish Lorton well in his retirement. Many of them shook his hand and expressed gratitude for a job well done.

Lorton said he is not sure of what he will do next.

“I don’t know what I’ll do. We’ll wait and see,” Lorton said. “It’s been a great 28 years. The technology and the changes I’ve got to see and experience has been something else.”

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