Russellville now has a deputy fire chief.

The Russellville City Council approved Russellville Fire Department Chief Joe Mansell’s recommendation, made during its July 18 meeting, to promote Capt. Randy Seal to the role.

It’s a move Mansell said makes sense for ensuring things run smoothly, promoting increased safety for Russellville.

“We’ve been working on getting a second in command for a while,” Mansell said. “We had five great candidates put in for the role.

“Capt. Seal’s heart is in this city,” Mansell said. “You couldn’t ask for a better person. He believes in taking care of the citizens and his fellow firefighters. He’s now in his 25th year, and he’s well-equipped for this role. He deserves this promotion.”

Seal called the promotion an honor. “I hope to be an asset to the department and help it move forward and serve the citizens of Russellville in any way possible,” he said. “I’d like to thank the mayor, council and Civil Service Board for the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity.”

Mansell said Seal is always working to advance the department and increase safety in the community.

“He’s always trying to get the department’s name out into the community and push to make it better,” Mansell said. “He’s always there to do whatever he has to. I’ve known him for years, and I’m very proud to be able to shake his hand as my second in command. He’s always been a major asset to our department.”

The next regular meeting of the Russellville City Council will be Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. in City Hall.