Keene names Greg Seymour as next fire chief

Greg Seymour steps into the department’s top post after Chief Jason Martin retires.

Keene will have a new fire chief on Sept. 1, when Deputy Chief Greg Seymour steps into the department’s top post after Chief Jason Martin retires that day.

The city said Friday that Seymour was chosen for the job by a selection panel made up of City Councilors Tom Powers and Bettina Chadbourne, Williston, Vt., Fire Chief Aaron Collette, Keene Police Chief Steve Stewart, Human Resources Director Darcy Newport and Deputy City Managers Rebecca Landry and Andy Bohannon.

Seymour has worked for the Keene Fire Department since 2014 and brings more than 20 years in fire service. His roles in Keene have included firefighter/paramedic, lieutenant/training officer, lieutenant/operations, captain/shift commander, acting deputy chief and deputy fire chief of operations.

City Manager Elizabeth Ferland said Seymour’s background in operations and leadership made him a strong fit to guide the department. She said his first-year focus will include improving communication inside the department and between the department and city management, along with clarifying standards and expectations.

Friday’s announcement also noted Seymour’s involvement in adding eight firefighters to the department, which raised staffing by two firefighters per shift.

Before joining Keene, Seymour worked as a critical care paramedic at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, a firefighter/paramedic with the Brattleboro Fire Department and a paramedic with Rescue Inc. in Vermont. He also holds an associate degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University.