By Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
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WILMINGTON, Mass. — After three decades of fighting fires in his hometown, Fire Chief Daniel Stewart says he is ready to “pursue other endeavors.”
Stewart, 55, confirmed yesterday that he is planning to retire next February - news that his brother, Town Moderator Jim Stewart, had unveiled during Saturday’s Town Meeting.
“I just felt that it was time to move on,” said Stewart, who first joined the Wilmington Fire Department in 1976.
He has since seen the department grow into a force of 29 firefighters and five lieutenants that responded to more than 2,500 calls last year.
“We have seen some very rapid growth in the town, and it’s been critical to get the right fire protection in place,” Stewart said. “It’s been a tremendous experience. I’ve worked with some great people.”
Stewart said he is thinking about pursuing opportunities in the world of public-safety teaching or consulting, given his involvement with one of six Massachusetts regional hazardous-materials teams over the last 15 years.
Stewart was among a small group of local officials that responded to the catastrophic explosion of a Danvers chemical plant last November as part of the haz-mat team.
“It’s brought me to some pretty large explosions and fires,” he said.
Stewart also served in the Army and Air Force Reserves as a firefighter before joining the Wilmington Fire Department.
He lives in Wilmington with his wife, Christine, the director of the Wilmington Public Library, and their two sons.