New Boscawen fire chief will be a volunteer, not part-time

After seriously considering a transition from a volunteer to a part-time fire chief, the town of Boscawen will continue having a volunteer chief.

Tim Kenney, a Battalion Chief for the Salem Fire Department who grew up in Boscawen, was hired as chief Tuesday night, replacing long-time Boscawen chief Ray Fisher, according to town administrator Alan Hardy. He will continue to work in Salem while he works in Boscawen and make a stipend of $14,000 a year.

Fisher made just under $14,000 in 2018, according to the town.

The town had originally posted the fire chief position as a part-time position, where the chief would be making $32,000 to $42,000 a year.

Town officials say the job of fire chief is constantly evolving and becoming more complicated: Firefighters not only fight fires but respond to car accidents and some health emergencies. The Boscawen Fire Department coordinates with Concord, Franklin and surrounding towns to respond to fires.

But Hardy said Kenney agreed at the end of the interviewing process to be a volunteer chief, something that was requested by the firefighters on the department.

“It is something that is very important to those who make up our fire department,” he said. “They want to be part of a volunteer fire department.”

Fisher, who officially retires on March 12, has been a member of the Boscawen Fire Department for 56 years. He began his career in the fire department in the 1960s and was made chief in 1997.

There will be a party in Fisher’ s honor on Saturday, March 9 at the fire station at 15 High Street from 2 to 5 p.m.