Saugus FD swears in first deputy chief

SAUGUS – A third-generation Saugus public safety officer was named the town’s first deputy fire chief Thursday during a swearing-in ceremony at Town Hall.”Deputy Chief Michael Newbury, that has a nice ring to it,” said Fire Chief Donald McQuaid.McQuaid called the deputy chief position, something the town has never had before, an excellent addition to the department. Newbury, a 15-year veteran and son of Walter Newbury, who served as chief from 1992 to 2004, will continue to serve in Fire Prevention but will also be involved in budgeting and other issues typically handled by the chief. The deputy will also be the officer in charge if the chief is out of town, on vacation or ill, McQuaid said. Prior to the deputy position that job fell to the executive officer, a position that was rotated among the captains.According to Town Manager Scott Crabtree the non-union, exam position will cost the town roughly $88,000 per year in salary.”This was part of the union contract that was negotiated in July,” he said. “It will bring a lot more stability. It’s someone with a vested interest in the town.”McQuaid was a captain when Newbury first started on the department.”We saw some big fires,” he said. “After I got the job as chief we worked together in the office. He was a good captain and a good executive officer.”Newbury, who has a bachelor’s degree in fire science and a master’s in public administration, admits he didn’t get into the job to do paperwork, but he’s OK with the transition.”Working on a fire truck, that’s what I signed up for essentially,” he said. “That’s the gig everyone wanted.”Becoming a captain and running your own crew is a goal, not doing paperwork, he added. However, he called becoming the first deputy chief an awesome experience.”I signed up to help people and I’ll still be doing that but in a different way,” he said.Newbury will be conducting fire investigations, code enforcements and inspections, and he will be, by and large, home every night for dinner with his family.”Now that we have two daughters it’s nice to have him home at night,” said Newbury’s wife Nicole.Just before the ceremony Newbury took a call from his father, who was traveling.”He’s elated,” he said. “I was actually sworn in two weeks ago and he was able to be here for that.”Newbury’s great-grandfather also served that town as a patrol officer.Along with Newbury, two firefighters were also sworn in: Michael Wilson and Craig Serino. Both born and raised in Saugus and both veterans, the pair said it was important to them to come home and serve their hometown.”Absolutely,” said Serino. “After everything Saugus has done for me, it’s a sense of pride.”McQuaid said the new firefighters bring the department’s ranks up to 44.”I’d like to have, at some point, 51,” McQuaid said. “We have three men at the academy now so that does put me a little closer. We’re getting there.”