Fire Chief Gary W. Sigmon has been with the Claremont Fire Department since 1986.  He has served his duties as a Firefighter, Captain of Training, and had been the Volunteer Fire Chief for 2 years until he was hired by the City of Claremont in 1995 to become the first Full Time Fire Chief.  Not only was Chief Sigmon hired as the first full time Fire Chief, but he was also the first paid member of the Claremont Fire Department in its entire existence.  Before being hired by the City of Claremont, Chief Sigmon was an Fire Engineer for the City of Newton Fire Department for four years and was the Superintendent of Building and Grounds for Catawba County.  Gary W. Sigmon has also been a Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Department since 1977.