Martin McMillan, who comes to Hanover from Rochester, New York, began as the chief of the Hanover Fire Department Monday. As he settles into his new role, McMillan said, he will focus on getting to know the community and collaborating with other Upper Valley fire departments to boost efficiency.
Former Hanover fire chief Roger Bradley, a member of the department since 1964 and chief since 1986, retired last October, and the decision sparked a nationwide search by firm Municipal Solutions, Hanover town manager Julia Griffin said. Of 57 applicants, 10 were selected for in-person interviews.
McMillan, former deputy chief of Rochester Fire Department, had been with the New York department for 28 years before accepting the Hanover position. The Rochester Fire Department, with around 500 staff members, responds to around 3,000 calls a year, McMillan said, while the Hanover Fire Department has a staff of 23.
McMillan’s background in fire and emergency medical services, as well as his past work with institutions of higher education, made him stand out in the search, Griffin said.
“We think he’s going to be just a great fit for the Hanover Fire Department and really benefit the entire Upper Valley region as well,” Griffin said. “Anything we can throw at him while he’s here, he’s seen it because we’ve inherited a seasoned veteran.”
Joseph Luna, a captain at the Rochester Fire Department, said that McMillan responded to large emergencies in his role as a line deputy chief, focusing more on strategy and tactics than administrative duties.
McMillan made important decisions about whether firefighters should run into vacant buildings, managing a program that prevented firefighters from going into buildings on demolition lists unless a person’s life was threatened, Luna said.
At the Rochester Fire Department, McMillan oversaw modernization projects, battalion chief David Bagley said.
“McMillan was very aggressive and a real full-throttle type of firefighter,” Bagley said. “He brought our rope rescue program from pre-World War II into the 21st century.”
Calling the new chief a “team player,” Hanover Fire Department captain Michael Gilbert said McMillan brings new ideas and perspectives to the department.
McMillan said he decided to take the position in Hanover because he had visited New Hampshire before on vacation and enjoyed it. His son, who is in high school, is interested in attending Dartmouth. The salary range is between $85,000 to $105,000, according to a pamphlet advertising the position.
Medical services and fire prevention are a priority for the department, McMillan said, adding that fire service is only a small percentage of what firefighters do.
Given the current state of the economy, he said, pushing towards collaboration and joint equipment purchases will be an important next step in making the department more efficient. The department’s annual operating budget is around $3.2 million.
McMillan said he is taking time to assess the department and meet the employees before making any changes.
“I’m going to sit back and absorb for a little while to get my arms around this, and we’ll go from there,” he said. “I don’t think the Hanover Fire Department is broken. On the contrary, I think it has been run very effectively, and we have a great group of people that are providing emergency service.”
