C.O.M.M. Fire Chief Eldridge Retires After Nearly 50 Years

BARNSTABLE, MA — There will be a changing of the guard this week for the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Fire Department as Chief Byron Eldridge retires after a 48-year career.

Eldridge spent 40 years with the C.O.M.M. Fire District, climbing the ranks from firefighter to senior private to lieutenant up to captain, deputy fire chief, and ultimately, the department's eighth fire chief.

A formal change of command is scheduled for Friday, which will both honor Eldridge and serve as the official promotions of new chief Patrick Hill and deputy chief Michael Rogers.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the 1875 Falmouth Rd. department headquarters, in Centerville.

Eldridge began his career in Wareham in 1977 at 17 before being hired full-time in 1983. Shortly after, he moved to Cape Cod, joining the Mashpee Fire Department before joining the C.O.M.M. department in 1985, where he served for the rest of his career.

He served as President of COMM Firefighters Local 2346 from 1989 to 1991, and was with the department for the design and construction of three fire stations.