ORANGE — The town’s fire chief has another month on the job before starting an identical position in a neighboring state.
James Young Jr. will finish in Orange on Feb. 13 and take over as the chief in Londonderry, New Hampshire, four days later. The announcement was made by Selectboard Chair Tom Smith at the Jan. 7 meeting.
“I would call it ‘mixed emotions.’ I’m certainly going to miss the Fire Department and the people there — definitely going to miss that,” Young said. “It’s been an honor to be the chief in the town you’re born and raised, but the time has come to move on.”
Young joined the department 27½ years ago and has been chief for 10½. He mentioned that Orange’s lingering budget woes were a major factor in his decision, as Londonderry is more financially stable. He said his family will relocate to New Hampshire “at the earliest time that is right for us.” Londonderry is about 85 miles from Orange.
Young mentioned he is going from a two-station, 31-firefighter department to one with three stations, 60 firefighters and 5,000 service calls per year.
Smith said town officials are sad to lose Young, who he described as a great asset to Orange.
“He will be greatly missed and we wish him all the best,” he wrote in an email.
According to a statement from the Londonderry Fire Department, Young is recognized for his collaborative approach to labor/management relations, budget development and strategic planning, and he has managed to secure grants that have supported millions of dollars in improvements.
“Reflecting Londonderry’s commitment to community-focused leadership, Chief Young is driven to find innovative, forward-thinking ways to constantly improve the quality of the service his department provides to its citizens,” the Londonderry Fire Department’s statement reads. “No stranger to New Hampshire, the Young family already regularly enjoys the region’s outdoor activities, including fishing and hiking.”
The Orange Selectboard will now try to find Young’s replacement as soon as possible, and an interim leader who will take the helm of the department during the hiring process has yet to be decided. Young said he will work with the Selectboard’s five members and Town Administrator Matthew Fortier to ensure a smooth transition.
He also said this move will not affect his efforts to earn a certified chief fire officer designation from the Center of Public Safety Excellence in Reston, Virginia, adding that the distinction is not department-specific. He said he became eligible after serving as fire chief for 10 years and earning a bachelor’s degree in fire administration.
The Center of Public Safety Excellence is an American not-for-profit entity, but certifies officers around the world. As of last year there were 2,030 chief fire officers worldwide, according to a post on the center’s Facebook page.
“It’s something that’s commonly known throughout the fire service. It’s just something that I’ve always been interested in doing,” Young said previously. “Because I’m eligible, I’m taking the step to achieve that accreditation.”