New Marblehead fire chief to take reigns

MARBLEHEAD – It’s official: Jason Gilliland has been sworn in as the next fire chief.He takes over the department at midnight Friday.Gilliland was sworn in by Town Clerk Robin Michaud in the upstairs auditorium at Abbot Hall Wednesday evening as a crowd of firefighters and family members looked on.A Dec. 11 graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and UMass Chief Fire Officer Program, Gilliland became a call firefighter July 16, 1984 and a full-time firefighter two years later. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2002 and captain in 2005, and serves as the department training officer and fire investigator.He is an instructor at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, coordinator of the MFA fire investigation program and president of the Essex County Fire Chiefs Training Division, and serves the town as chairman of the School Security Subcommittee.Today is Fire Chief Barry Dixey’s last day as chief. During their meeting, selectmen voted to name today Chief Barry Dixey Day in his honor.Board members also expressed their appreciation to Fire Capt. Richard Bartlett and Fire Lt. Joseph Jurasek, who are retiring.