A Fire Chief’s Work Is a Community Effort

Dear members of the community, as I prepare to retire after 29 years in the fire services, I do so with a full heart and deep gratitude for the privilege of serving this community. One of the greatest honors was being chosen in 2019 to lead the Chilmark Fire Department. After nearly seven years as the Chilmark Fire Chief, it is with a mix of pride and nostalgia that I close this chapter and walk out the doors of the Menemsha Crossroad Station turning over the keys to the town’s new chief, Manny Rose. I close this chapter of my career knowing the department will continue on in his capable hands.

No one completes a career in public service alone. When I look back, I do not primarily see titles, ranks or milestones. I see people. I see a team. I see firefighters who stood the watch with courage and integrity. I see labor partners, board members, city and county leaders, and public servants who carried responsibility faithfully, often behind the scenes. I see community members who trusted their firefighters and me, during moments of crisis, uncertainty and change.

What I learned over time is that the fire service is not simply a job. It is a calling. A calling that shapes your character, tests your resolve and reminds you that leadership is not about position, but about stewardship, caring for people, making difficult decisions with humility and honoring the trust placed in you.

I am lucky and grateful to have, not only the educational support of various online fire fighting educational resources, but my fellow chiefs, the instructors from the Massachusetts Fire Academy and a wealth of other opportunities that always seem to arise whenever one is seeing more knowledge. I am especially proud of the rigorous coursework I completed to receive my certification as a credentialed Massachusetts Fire Chief in 2020.

To our elected officials, mutual aid support and police department members, I thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder during seasons that demanded perseverance, collaboration and vision. The progress we achieved together was never about recognition. It was about doing what was right for the community we serve.

I would like to highlight a few on my list of thanks who went above and beyond to ensure the functionality and safety of our department members. The members of the Islandwide fire services who provide mutual aid in times of need are our unsung heroes. They are geared up and crossing town lines to come to our assistance before the call for help even rings out. The Chilmark Fire Department is indebted and will always strive to do the same for you.

John Dumas of Eversource needs praise. It may seem like a small task, but ensuring our scenes are free of electrical hazards makes our job less worrisome.

Sheriff Bob Ogden — if you and your team at the communication center didn’t share information and directions clearly, we’d literally be lost without you.

To the volunteer firefighters that I served alongside, past and present, thank you for your professionalism, your honesty and your willingness to show up even at the most inconvenient of times. You taught me that leadership is forged in phone calls, meetings, long nights, hard and courageous conversations and, most of all, shared responsibility. You also taught me that trust is earned daily.

The bravery, commitment to training and unwavering dedication of the members of the Chilmark Fire Department are the heart of this department. They are my greatest legacy, and I know the community remains in safe hands.

Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of community safety. These dedicated individuals serve as a crucial first line of response for emergencies, ranging from fire suppression and rescue to medical incidents and natural disasters. They risk everything for nothing in many cases, often dropping their personal lives, jobs and family time at the sound of an alarm to serve their neighbors. Despite being volunteers, these responders train to the same high standards and use the same equipment as career firefighters to ensure the highest level of care and safety.

As many departments face challenges with recruiting and retaining members, expressing gratitude for these unsung heroes is a vital way to support them. Despite the vital role they play, volunteer fire departments across the country are facing a shortage of volunteers. There are several factors contributing to this challenge, including changing demographics, evolving lifestyles and increased demands on volunteers’ time.

The demanding nature of firefighting and the time commitment required for training and emergency response can certainly be a deterrent, but there is also an immense sense of camaraderie and pride once you join the Chilmark Fire Department. Let this be a plea to you to consider joining the ranks. There truly is a place for everyone.

And to my family, I thank you for your sacrifices and steady support during the long nights, missed holidays, odd hours on the job and the seemingly haphazard sounding of the tones calling me to duty.

While I am stepping away, my heart will always be with this department. It has been a pleasure to serve you.

With gratitude,

Jeremy Bradshaw, Chilmark Fire Chief, retired.

This article appears in February 13, 2026.