Bedford council confirms Frank Freightzel as fire chief

The Bedford Town Council confirmed Frank Freightzel as fire chief of the town of Bedford, effective April 14, 2025, in a 7-0 vote at its March 10 meeting.

Town Manager Rick Sawyer, citing Article 4-6 of the town charter, told the council he appointed Freightzel after an external recruitment and a multi-panel selection process. "Pursuant to article 4 dash 6 of the town charter, I'm pleased to submit my appointment of longtime Bedford resident and current lieutenant of our call department, Frank Freightzel, as the town Of Bedford's next fire chief," Sawyer said.

The appointment matters because the chief also serves as the town's co-emergency manager and forest fire warden, roles that involve oversight of emergency response and wildfire coordination. Sawyer said Freightzel was selected after resumes were reviewed, four finalists interviewed and three separate panels provided feedback: an executive panel that included councilors and the deputy fire chief; an internal panel made up of a fire captain, a firefighter paramedic and three department heads; and an external panel of municipal partners, including two fire chiefs and a city manager.

Sawyer described Freightzel's qualifications: 18 years of experience serving as a fire chief in other municipalities, an earlier period as a full-time member of Bedford's department where he rose to lieutenant, and subsequent service in the call department. "Frank brings to us 18 years of experience as a fire chief having served in that capacity currently with the town of New Boston and previously with Litchfield and Milford. And he also served as deputy chief in Merrimack," Sawyer said. He added that Freightzel holds a Bachelor of Science in public safety administration and Executive Fire Officer and Chief Fire Officer designations, along with other certifications, and that the town received eight letters of recommendation supporting the appointment.

Councilor Carter moved to confirm the appointment; Councilor Briaza seconded. Chair Laurie Ratke called the vote; the motion passed 7-0. The record does not list individual roll-call votes by name.

Freightzel addressed the council after the vote, saying he was "honored and humbled" and that his fire-service career began in Bedford. "I am honored and humbled to be sitting here tonight, and thank you for your endorsement of me to be the next fire chief in the town of Bedford," he said. He told the council his family has made Bedford their home and thanked current and past councils for investments in apparatus and staffing. Freightzel also said that with a favorable vote on a separate item the following day, construction of a new fire station would hopefully begin.

No amendments or conditions were added to the appointment. The council did not direct additional follow-up during the meeting. The confirmation concludes the advertised hiring process described by Sawyer and installs Freightzel as the ninth chief in the 103-year history of the Bedford Fire Department.