Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock. | Clay County
Published on August 11, 2026 at 11:14 am
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
Clay County is looking for a new fire-rescue chief after Chief Lorin Mock announced his retirement, effective in April after more than 16 years leading the department.
County officials credit Mock with multiple achievements, including new fire stations and programs for residents and firefighters.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
In announcing his retirement, Mock said it has been an honor to serve Clay County’s citizens and to work alongside the men and women who work in the Fire-Rescue Department.
“The accomplishments of this department belong to the firefighters, dispatchers, emergency management professionals, support staff, county leadership, and community partners who work every day to protect our communities,” Mock said in the county’s announcement of his retirement. “I am proud of what we have built together and confident that the department is positioned for continued success.”
County Manager Howard Wanamaker said the chief has fundamentally strengthened the department so it can meet the needs of a rapidly growing community.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
A nationwide search for Mock’s replacement “reflects both the importance of the position and our commitment to finding an exceptional leader who can build upon the strong foundation Chief Mock and the members of Clay County Fire Rescue have established,” Wanamaker said in the news release.
The chief’s position is being advertised on the county’s website, with applications accepted through Sept. 25. The county manager will make the final selection.
A new chief should be in place by mid-to-late December, followed by a 30- to 60-day onboarding period and transition with Mock.
Lorin Mock’s career
Mock’s career as a firefighter spans more than 40 years, including 27 years with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department with senior leadership positions in fire operations and emergency management.
In his time leading Clay County Fire Rescue, his accomplishments include expanded emergency response capabilities, firefighter wellness initiatives, the Community Paramedicine program and a $65 million investment in public safety facilities and infrastructure.
That funding, approved by the county commissioners in 2024, included financing for new and replacement fire stations, a fire training facility and public safety communications.
Among the projects is Fire Station 20 in Green Cove Springs, opened last year and home to Clay County’s first 9/11 Memorial.
Mock led his department in battling April’s stubborn wildfire along the Clay and Putnam County border. The so-called Railroad Fire began over the weekend as two separate blazes — one in Clay County off County Road 209, east of U.S. 17, and the other in Bostwick in Putnam County. The two fires then merged.
