BURLINGTON — In a ceremony at the city’s downtown fire station Thursday morning, Mayor Miro Weinberger named Deputy Fire Chief Michael LaChance to the Burlington Fire Department’s top job.
The city has been without a leader since last June, when Chief Steven Locke decamped for South Burlington. LaChance’s appointment will have to be confirmed by the Burlington City Council, which could take action as soon as Monday, Weinberger said.
Since the pandemic, firefighters have faced “unprecedented challenges” posed by the opioid and mental health crises, Weinberger said. For that reason, he said, it was important to find “a strong leader, a supportive colleague, and an innovative thinker” to transform and improve the department.
Flanked by his colleagues and with his family watching, LaChance said, “I appreciate the trust that the mayor has placed in me with this appointment. It is my honor to lead such a fine group of public safety professionals in a department in a city that I have so much respect for.”
LaChance’s career in fire safety began almost 30 years ago as a volunteer firefighter in Colchester. He joined the Burlington department in 1999 and described the new appointment as a “full circle moment” for him.
“I will work hard to assure that you’re all proud of this organization. With all of you by my side, we can’t lose,” he said.
LaChance said his priorities include continuing to add and train staff and improve recruitment. He said he hoped to renovate some of the city’s older fire stations and install individual bunk rooms and second bathroom facilities, he said, “so that we can support the more diverse workforce that we’re currently staffing and are hoping to staff in the future.”
To address mental health and substance use, LaChance said, the department would continue to collaborate with the police department and the Howard Center to implement a crisis response team.
Lt. Kyle Blake, president of the Burlington Firefighters Association, said after the ceremony that he was happy to have a chief who worked his way up the ranks, knows the department well, is collaborative and works well with people in the department and in the city.
According to Weinberger, prioritized human resources, strengthened recruitment efforts and promoted diversity in the workforce, during his time as deputy chief.
“Anyone who engages Mike will tell you he is a warm and charismatic leader who cares deeply for his family, his colleagues in the fire department and for this city,” the mayor said.
