Weaverville Welcomes Fire Chief Ray Canafax
2026-Press Release WVL-Canafax
The Town of Weaverville is pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Canafax as the new Fire Chief. Chief Canafax will bring more than 32 years of fire service experience and over 20 years of fire-related training to Weaverville. Chief Canafax is expected to begin his new role on April 20th.
Scottie Harris, Weaverville’s Town Manager, stated: “With an advertisement that went nationwide we were very fortunate to end up with several highly qualified candidates from Western North Carolina and other states for the position of fire chief….”
Chief Canafax previously served at the City of Huntington Fire Department in West Virginia where he worked his way up from firefighter/engineer to Deputy Fire Chief, the position that he retired from in 2024. Currently he is working with Grayson Volunteer Fire Department, a position that he took in 2025. He also served as adjunct instructor at the West Virginia University Fire Service Extension for 19 years and continues to deliver important fire training across several states. In addition to proven leadership skills, Canafax brings experience working with grants and budgets, purchasing fire apparatus, expanding a department into multiple fire stations, and engaging with the public. In addition to an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Development earned at Mountwest Community and Technical College in Huntington, West Virginia, Canafax holds many fire and rescue training certificates.
Chief Canafax: “I am honored to be named the next Fire Chief for the Town of Weaverville. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated members of the department and the Town’s leadership team to build upon the strong foundation already in place while continuing to provide the highest level of emergency services to our community.”
Weaverville’s Police Chief, Somer Oberlin, participated on the selection panel and has stated: “I’m excited to welcome Fire Chief Canafax to the team. This is an exciting moment for our community, and we look forward to building a strong partnership. As our town continues to grow, the collaboration between our police and fire departments becomes even more important. Together, we will continue to enhance public safety, support one another in the field, and provide the highest level of service to the residents we are proud to serve.”