Assistant chief named interim, outgoing Milford fire chief praised; department outlines recruits, whole‑blood pilot and apparatus updates

The Milford Fire Commission on May 21 appointed Assistant Chief Christopher Wake Norris as interim chief effective May 30, 2026, and praised outgoing Chief Anthony Fbrezy for more than three decades of service.

Commission remarks to Chief Fbrezy described his leadership as "going above and beyond" and thanked him for his mentorship. Chief Fbrezy responded, "I will miss this department dearly" and said his decision to step down was driven by family commitments after more than 30 years in the department.

Assistant Chief Christopher Wake Norris was named by motion of the commission and the motion carried by voice vote. "I'll be good for right now," Norris said when offered time for remarks.

In his department report, Chief Fbrezy said the department and several paramedics received awards from Yale Medical’s Bridgeport/Milford campus and summarized financial and personnel updates. He reported the department is about 45 weeks into the 25/26 fiscal year with payroll accounts averaging about 98.3% and overall budget use near 87.8%. The chief said EMS billing has reached a $500,000 cap; he said the amount beyond the cap would have been approximately $37,867 and that the current EMS revenue balance is about $417,000.

Chief and assistant chiefs described an operational initiative with Yale Milford campus to carry whole blood on Car 4 (the incident command vehicle). Chief Fbrezy said the program will give paramedics another tool in the field; Assistant Chief Rex Norris discussed training and benefits and cited a department figure that carrying whole blood can increase survival for major hemorrhage by about "35%". The program will be staged on Car 4 and be available to units called into service.

The commission also received an apparatus update: a Ford Maverick will be assigned to the fire inspector division; a new ambulance is at the dealer in Greenwood, Massachusetts awaiting final outfitting and state inspection; a 100‑foot quint ordered to replace Quint 3 is on the assembly line with a projected completion the week of June 8; a second quint remains on a longer delivery schedule.

Chief Fbrezy said six academy recruits graduate the next day and are expected to be on duty by early July, which he said should help relieve overtime and vacancy pressures.