BRATTLEBORO — With the retirement of Capt. Ron Hubbard after 37 years with the Brattleboro Fire Department, and the resignation of Firefighter Joe Amato, who has returned to his hometown, Fire Chief Michael Bucossi announced the promotions of two veteran firefighters and the hiring of two entry-level firefighters.
Lt. Charles “Chuck” Keir III has been promoted to the rank of captain. Keir is a 16-year member, and has held the rank of lieutenant for the last 11 years.
Keir is Fire Officer II certified and an Advanced National Registered Emergency Medical Technician. He is the team leader of the Brattleboro Fire Department Dive Team, a state instructor for the Vermont Fire Academy and a member of the Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
He assumed his new duties on July 1 as shift commander on Platoon #1, succeeding Hubbard.
Firefighter Rusty Sage has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He is a 14-year veteran of the fire department, hired to the Career Staff in 2003. FF Sage holds a Fire Officer II certification, is an Advanced National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, and a fire service instructor for the Vermont Fire Academy.
Sage is a certified fire investigator, holding multiple hours of training in fire origin and cause and arson investigations. He is the team leader for the BFD Fire Investigation Team and is also a member of the Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. He assumed his new duties on July 1 on Platoon #2.
Alexander “Alex” Richardson and William “Will” Streeter have both been hired as entry level firefighters.
Richardson is from Chelsea, Vt., serving as a volunteer for the last five years on the Chelsea Fire Department. He is a 2016 honors graduate from Lakes Region Community College with an associate's degree in Fire Science, is FFII certified, and is a Vermont-certified EMT.
Streeter is from Tamworth, N.H., where he was a member of the Tamworth Fire Department since 2014. He is a 2017 graduate of Lakes Region Community College, also with an associate's degree in Fire Science, is FFII certified, and is a nationally certified EMT.