New Portsmouth Fire Chief Paul D. Ford

He is an exceptional candidate.”

Portsmouth Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr.

PORTSMOUTH — There’s a new fire chief in town.

The Town Council Monday night voted unanimously to ratify Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr.’s selection of Paul D. Ford of Swansea as the town’s fire chief. He succeeds Michael Cranson, who retired as chief at the end of June after 27 years with the department.

Chief Ford was chief of the Fall River Fire Department from 2008 to 2011 and served 28 years in fire service for that city.  

As chief, he led 232 full-time firefighters and 35 paramedics in Fall River, which has six fire stations and an administration/training facility. The combined fire and emergency medical services budget totaled $20 million in that city.

He was chief of the Brookline Fire Department from 2011 to 2016 and had been serving as interim chief in Oxford, Mass. since July 2017. Before that he was interim chief in Sturbridge, Mass. for six months.

“He is an exceptional candidate,” Mr. Rainer told the council. “He has 35 years’ experience as a firefighter, has served as a firefighting instructor at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, and has more than 10 years’ experience in the top of his profession as a fire chief. He is an experienced emergency management director, has an incredible track record in obtaining grant funding and managing department budgets.”

19 qualified applicants

A search for a new chief generated 19 qualified applicants including five former or current chiefs, four deputy chiefs, two battalion chiefs, four captains and one lieutenant. Human Resources Director Lisa E. Puglia then screened each candidate to make sure they met all the minimum qualifications.

On Aug. 2, nine applicants were invited to be screened and interviewed by a panel consisting of Ms. Puglia and three serving fire chiefs, Mr. Rainer said.

“Consideration was given to current and former positions, years in fire service, level of advanced education and residency in the screening process. Using this criterion, the pool was narrowed to nine applicants to be invited for an interview,” Ms. Puglia stated in a letter to Mr. Rainer.

“The panel unanimously recommended Mr. Paul Ford and, after an extensive interview, I emphatically agree with the panel’s recommendation,” Mr. Rainer said.

Chief Ford attended Monday’s meeting but did not formally speak, other to thank the council for its vote.

In a letter included with his job application, he said it was originally his long-range goal to retire from the Fall River Fire Department as chief and then seek a position in a department on Aquidneck Island.

“Though my plans were altered, my long-term goal remains the same. I believe my management abilities and the varied experiences I have enjoyed in the fire service will be an asset to the Town of Portsmouth,” he stated.