LYNN — Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer is one of just four Massachusetts fire chiefs that will sit on a state board responsible for appointing the state fire marshal and reviewing the department’s annual budget.
Archer has been appointed to the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission, an eight-member board that consists of the secretary of public safety and security (ex-officio) and seven appointed members, including four fire chiefs, one captain, one firefighter, and one member of the insurance industry.
Archer was nominated for the appointment — which became effective on Dec. 1 — by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, an organization that he is involved with and one that traditionally has representation on the state fire service commission, he said.
Once nominated, Archer went through a “pretty extensive” application process, and was ultimately appointed to the board by Gov. Charlie Baker, he said.
“It’s an honor to be appointed to it,” said Archer, who sat in on his first commission meeting last week. “I’m really now just getting my feet wet and figuring out what is top of the agenda for the commission for me going forward, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Archer noted that State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey is “a very busy guy,” and finds it “gratifying” that he will be able to support him through his role on the fire commission.
The commission “appoints the state fire marshal, promulgates regulations and policies about the Office of the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire Safety), reviews the annual budget for the department, advises the department on state and national fire codes, and consults with the Massachusetts Fire Training Council to develop standards for fire investigation and certification,” according to the state website.
Archer, 56, became the city’s fire chief in February 2018 following 25 years of service to the Lynn Fire Department. He anticipates that his experience as fire chief will be helpful to his work on the state fire commission.
“I expect to bring what I’ve learned as fire chief,” said Archer. “I plan to bring that into assisting the commission in any way I can.
“Obviously, I just have to be careful about balancing my time with the fire chief’s job and what is required of me with the fire commission’s job. It all seems entirely doable.”
