Selectman assumes fire chief duties because firefighters don’t have time

OAKFIELD — An Oakfield selectman has assumed the administrative duties of fire chief in Oakfield after regular department members indicated they didn’t have time to perform those duties.

Firefighters and town officials met Thursday night to discuss the situation, at which time Dennis Burpee, a former member of the department, indicated he would take over the administrative duties of fire chief. The action came after none of the regular members of the department offered to take the post.

Oakfield Town Manager Candice Roy said Friday that all members of the department were staying on and planned to continue their active involvement. She said, however, that the firefighters had found it increasingly difficult to perform the administrative duties of fire chief.

She said increased responsibilities placed on volunteer chiefs as a result of new rules and regulations had placed many extra demands on their time; time she said that they didn’t have.

“Nobody’s got the time,” she said. “They’re all working men.”

She said firefighters would still respond to fires and would handle all activities directly related to fire fighting, including training.