NATCHEZ — The Natchez Fire Department has been without a fire chief since June 30.

But Mayor Butch Brown said he’s hopeful that will change soon.

“We’re supposed to discuss that at our next board meeting,” Brown said.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen will have its regular meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers, 124 S. Pearl St.

The board has already interviewed six candidates for the fire chief position, three of which were from Natchez and the other three hailing from outside the state.

The Natchez Civil Service Commission selected the candidates from a list of approximately 20 applicants.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said she doesn’t expect the board to do another round of interviews for the fire chief position.

The next fire chief has already been interviewed, she said.

“I think the board will probably go into executive session (Tuesday) to discuss this further,” Arceneaux-Mathis said.

In the meantime, battalion chiefs David Williams, Chris Gibson, Aaron Wesley and Leland Rymer are leading the department.

“I think the fire department is in real good hands right now,” said Ward 2 Aldermen Rickey Gray. “You have a wealth of experience with those four guys.”

Williams, Gibson and Wesley all applied for the fire chief position.

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery and Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith previously expressed interest in one of the out-of-town candidates.

Arceneaux-Mathis said once the board meets Tuesday to discuss the applicants, there should be a more solid consensus on who will be appointed to lead the city’s fire department.