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Westford Fire Chief resigns; Selectboard bans burn permits until May 15 or a new Fire Warden is appointed
Summary
Fire Chief Garrett Bartlett resigned; Bill Fay will take over as chief and Steve Willard as assistant. The Selectboard voted 4-0 to suspend burn permits until May 15 or until a Fire Warden is appointed amid state caution about current fire risk.
Garrett Bartlett tendered his resignation as Westford Fire Chief at the Selectboard meeting on April 9, 2026. Bartlett told the board he hopes to return to the department in the future; the department plans for Bill Fay to take over as chief and Steve Willard to serve as assistant chief.
Chair Pat Haller said the board must address fire‑safety oversight immediately because of current dry conditions and state cautions. Julia Andrews moved to close burn permits immediately “until May 15th or until a Fire Warden is appointed,” and Pat Haller seconded; the motion passed 4-0. Bartlett told the board a set calendar date is not always a reliable indicator of safety and that danger can persist past standard seasonal dates depending on weather. The Selectboard noted Fire Warden duties will revert to the board to appoint until a formal Warden is named.
The board directed Town Administrator Tommy O’Connor to coordinate next steps on appointing a Fire Warden and to post a public notice about the temporary ban. The moratorium was included in the meeting’s communication plan to be announced on Front Porch Forum and in the town newsletter.
