Ray Merrill’s nearly-50-year career in firefighting came to an abrupt halt this week.

The city of Oak Harbor posted a brief press release online Thursday afternoon stating that the fire chief’s employment had ceased.

A couple of members of the city council said the decision by Mayor Ronnie Wright took everyone by surprise, even though it is expected that a new mayor might make changes in top staffing positions. Department heads like Merrill are at-will employees and serve at the pleasure of the mayor.

According to the statement, Wright will immediately begin a recruitment process for hiring a new fire chief. In the meantime, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Buxton will serve as the acting chief.

“I wish to thank Ray Merrill for his service to our community, as the fire chief,” Wright said in the press release. “He served with honor. The city council, administration and staff of the city of Oak Harbor wish Mr. Merrill the very best.”

In an interview Friday, Merrill said he was also surprised by the decision. He said he had planned to retire after getting the second firehouse built and manned.

“But that’s not going to happen,” he said.

Merrill’s time as the fire chief began with some political pyrotechnics.

Former Mayor Scott Dudley’s decision to appointment Merrill to the position in 2012 stirred up controversy. Dudley fired most senior-level city officials, including Fire Chief Mark Soptich, when he came into office. Some council members refused to ratify the appointment of Merrill as a protest to Dudley’s actions, but the decision was ultimately confirmed in a 4-3 vote.

Not long after becoming chief, Merrill started advocating for the construction of a second fire station in the southwest area of the Oak Harbor in order to cut response times in the expanding city. He received some pushback from city leaders until 2022, when the city council finally agreed to place a levy lid lift and a bond on the ballot. Both measures passed with more than the required 60% supermajority.

Merrill’s career in the fire service began with the Westport Fire Department. After a year, he moved to the fire department in Federal Way, where he spent 12 years.

Merrill then worked 22 years as the battalion chief for the Oak Harbor Fire Department, which included 16 years as fire marshal. He retired from the job and went to the work as a training officer for North Whidbey Fire and Rescue until he returned to Oak Harbor Fire Department as the chief.

Merrill specialized in investigating the cause of fires and often helped other departments over the years. In 2016, he earned an elite certification from National Association of Fire Investigators, International.

Oak Harbor Councilmember Shane Hoffmire has been a big supporter of Merrill and the second fire station. On Thursday, he said he was surprised but not upset that Merrill is leaving the city. He said it’s expected that new mayors make their own staffing decisions.

“Chief Merrill built a great department,” he said. “They will continue to serve the city well.”

Merrill will receive a severance package.

Wright did not return a call for comment.