Achilles Named City's New Fire Chief

Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles, a Portsmouth native who has been with the Portsmouth Fire Department for more than a decade, was named the city's new fire chief on Wednesday night.

The Portsmouth Fire Commission unanimously named Achilles the new fire chief after they unanimously accepted the resignation of current Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire, who will become the new fire chief in Newburyport, Mass., in June.

Fire Commission Chairman Richard Gamester read LeClaire's letter of resignation, which he said he accepted with "regret."

Gamester said LeClaire became the city's fire chief in 2002 after serving as assistant chief for three years and played a key role in improving the fire department on many levels.

“My decision to come to Portsmouth in 1999 was the best decision I ever made," read LeClaire's letter. “It has been my honor to serve as Portsmouth Fire Chief.

"After 27 years in the New Hampshire Fire Service it is time to move onto new challenges," LeClaire wrote.

LeClaire also recommended Achilles be promoted as the next fire chief.

“Steve has earned this promotion,” LeClaire wrote.

Gamester said LeClaire chaired the committee that made it possible to build the new Fire Station 2 on Lafayette Road and served as the city's emergency management director. He also said LeClaire brought in $1.2 million in federal funds, which helped the Portsmouth Fire Department acquire the fire boat. And he said LeClaire was also a strong proponent of keeping Fire Station 3 at Pease International Tradeport open and improving it.

“Chris LeClaire and his team have made Portsmouth a model fire community,” Gamester said.

Fire Commissioner Michael Hughes made the nomination to name Achilles as the city's next fire chief. He said Achilles has been with the department for 13 years. He said Achilles served as deputy chief in 2000 and has been assistant chief since 2003. Over that time, Hughes said Achilles has worked well with the fire department and the City Council to move the department forward.

Currently, Hughes said Achilles is working toward his master's degree in public administration in fire services and has completed all of the New Hampshire Fire Services training programs.

“I believe this appointment to chief will be a positive move for the department, the city and for Steve and his family.” Hughes said.

But there was one member of the fire department who was not pleased with the way the Fire Commission named Achilles as the new fire chief.

“I just a little disappointment in the way this occurred,” said Fire Capt. Ken Smith, a member of the Portsmouth Firefighters Officers union.

Smith said there were only two fire commissioners present on Wednesday night and he questioned why they didn’t appoint Achilles as the temporary fire chief. He said the department has always followed a process when it comes to naming new fire chiefs that was not followed this time.

Fire Commissioner Paul Wentworth was absent because he suffered a pinched nerve, according to Gamester.

Following the meeting, Gamester said the Fire Commission reserves the right to either hire a new fire chief from within the department if they feel they have a qualified candidate or conduct an outside search.

Gamester said LeClaire will resign on June 1 at 4:01 p.m. and Achilles will become the new fire chief on the same day at the same exact time. He said Achilles will be officially sworn into the fire chief's post by the City Council after June 1.