Fire Chief Miles To Retire After 36 Years With Sudbury Department

SUDBURY, MA—After 36 years with the Sudbury Fire Department, Fire Chief William Miles is retiring at the end of January, the town announced on Thursday.

Miles has been the chief for the last seven years.

“I’m proud to have served with Chief Miles, and am sad to see him leave,” Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said in a statement. “Chief Miles has a long and respected career here in Sudbury. He has made a lasting mark on our community through his commitment to our paramedic and ambulance program. He spent each day here making certain that our residents received the highest caliber of services. He will be missed.”

Miles is retiring on Jan. 31, exactly seven years in his position as chief. Miles was hired to work for the Sudbury department on July 26, 1981, after an interview at Chief Josiah Frost’s Loring Parsonage Office.

"As I advanced through the ranks, I was always able to depend on the wisdom and experience of those who preceded me, and felt fortunate to have had so many competent people under my direction," Miles wrote in his retirement letter. When I was not the fire chief, I thought I knew everything about being a fire chief. I quickly learned that running a fire department was not a task for just one person. Success depended on hard work and support from all the officers, firefighters, and staff of the fire department, both in Sudbury and in neighboring towns, cooperation from town officials and their staffs, help from town boards and committees, and of course the support of the townspeople. My thanks go out to every single person who helped me over the years.

"I reserve the biggest thanks for my family. Firefighters spend a lot of time at the station during birthdays, holidays, and big storms. My family never complained when I was out helping others.

"For me, the job of a firefighter is the best job in the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to work at the best job, and the good fortune to do my job in a town like Sudbury."

Photo via Sudbury Fire Department