Battalion Chief Jeff Hoyle began his fire service as a volunteer with Fairbrook Fire Department, and in 2010, was hired as a full-time firefighter with the City of Hickory Fire Department.  Prior to his employment with the City of Hickory, Chief Hoyle served 9 years with the City of Newton Fire Department as a Fire Apparatus Operator. Chief Hoyle has completed training as a Fire Inspector Level I, Level I Fire Service Instructor, and Fire Officer Level III through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission.  Chief Hoyle is a 2021 graduate of the Fire and Rescue Management Institute through UNC-Charlotte.  In 2018, Chief Hoyle received an Associate’s degree in Fire Protection Technology from Catawba Valley Community College.  In 2022, Chief Hoyle graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Business Law.