EVE CHEN
11Alive

ATLANTA - Interim Fire Chief Joel Baker could stay on as chief of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. He's among the three finalists being considered for the post.

Kelvin Cochran, who served as the city's fire chief from 2008-2009 before being appointed to U.S. Fire Administrator by President Obama, also made the cut.

So did Brenda Nishiyama Willis, who's served with Atlanta Fire and Rescue for nearly 30 years.

The finalists were announced Wednesday after a three-month search.

"These candidates have the experience and leadership skills to help make the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department the best-trained and responsive in the nation," Atlanta Mayor Kaseem Reed said in a statement. "I am confident that soon we will have the right person in place to lead the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department."

All three finalists have each had more than two decades of fire service experience.