PORTSMOUTH, NH—The Fire Commission Tuesday night unanimously appointed Capt. Todd Germain to serve as interim fire chief, effective April 29, when Chief Steve Achilles retires.
"Everybody agreed Todd is the senior captain and he knows what's going to be asked of him," said Commissioner Richard "Dickie" Gamester. "He's a very dedicated fireman, he's dedicated to the city and he's dedicated to the fire service."
Gamester said Germain also was recommended by Achilles.
Gamester said the Fire Commission also named five members to serve on a search committee for the next permanent fire chief. He said he will serve on the search committee with Mayor Jack Blalock, attorney Tom Watson, Deputy City Manager Nancy Colbert Puff and Exeter Fire Chief Brian Comeau. Gamester said the job was posted last week and after 30 days, the search committee will narrow the field of interested applicants to seven or eight. Those finalists will be interviewed and the field then narrowed to two, he said. A more rigorous review of the two finalists will end with the selection of a new chief, Gamester said.
Achilles, who has been with the Portsmouth Fire Department for 19 years, the last six as chief, is retiring to be the next fire chief in Southborough, Massachusetts. In addition to his retirement, the Fire Department recently also lost Deputy Fire Chief Carl Roediger and Capt. Richard Murphy with their retirements. That has led to a series of recent promotions and new firefighter vacancies.
Patrick Howe, a 19-year veteran of the Fire Department, was recently promoted to deputy chief from fire inspector. Rick Condon, a 25-year veteran of the department, was promoted from lieutenant to captain. Firefighter Garrett Miller was promoted to lieutenant, and firefighter Shawn Wheeler was promoted to fire prevention officer.
Achilles said his decision to leave the Fire Department "has absolutely no reflection on the people here" and he called the move "bittersweet."
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