Maxwell is new deputy fire chief
BY MARY LANCASTER
Last Friday, Ed Maxwell was appointed as the new deputy fire chief rounding out the department’s staffing to the level it held before former Fire Chief Everett Pierce resigned last summer. Maxwell, who has served as fire alarm superintendent since the end of 1997, was chosen for the deputy’s position by his predecessor Mark McDougall, who was promoted to chief to replace Pierce.

“He is qualified, he’s hardworking and he has done a wonderful job with the fire alarm division,” McDougall said of recommending Maxwell as deputy. “He is loyal and honest, and I think it’s a good thing for the chief and his deputy to be on the same working level. Ed will make it a positive reinforcement. It’s good and it will be a huge help to me.”

Maxwell, who will earn approximately $84,000 annually, was born in New Jersey and moved to the island with his parents in 1976. After graduation from Nantucket High School he was employed in the construction trade and also worked for local plumbing companies before starting his own plumbing and heating business in 1988. Maxwell began with the fire department in 1991 as a call firefighter and said he cut back to doing occasional plumbing jobs when he was hired as a full-time member of the department in July 1995.

“I’m excited about it,” he said of his new role. “It will be a little more challenging than my old position. I’ll be working with the firefighters on fire suppression, which is why we all get into this field anyway.”

Maxwell, who has a son, 19, and daughter, 18, said when McDougall was considering accepting the title of chief he approached him and asked if he was interested in taking the deputy’s post and helping him achieve the goals he wanted to accomplish. It was not difficult for Maxwell to make his decision.

“I’ve worked with Mark my whole career and we function well together. We share goals for the department,” said Maxwell. “We’ve worked well through the years, so I wanted to stand by him.”

Anotice has been posted at the fire station seeking someone on staff who would like to assume Maxwell’s former job as fire alarm superintendent, charged with alarm inspections, alarm plan reviews and repair and maintenance of all the town’s fire alarm boxes.

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