Easton Fire Chief Kevin Partridge Announces Retirement

EASTON, MA — Easton Fire Chief Kevin Partridge announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from the Easton Fire Department after nearly four decades of fire services in the state.

Partridge, who served as Easton's fire chief the past eight years, spent 22 of his 36 years in fire service as a chief in Avon, Berkley and Easton.

"It is with a mixture of gratitude and sadness to share the news of Chief Kevin Partridge's planned retirement from the Easton Fire Department," Easton Town Administrator Connor Read said. "During his tenure, Kevin has brought about tremendous capital and operating improvements to help elevate the department to its fullest potential."

Partridge began his career as a volunteer firefighter at 18 years old in Swansea, and became a full-time firefighter in Berkley in 1986. He was named Berkley's fire chief at age 27, and has also served as the Avon's fire chief, and as the director of Homeland Security and Emergency Response for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services from 2006 to 2012.

He was named Easton's fire chief in 2012.

"I would like to thank all of the members of the Easton Fire Department who I have worked with over the past eight and a half years," Partridge said. "It was a privilege of mine to watch them grow professionally and I'm proud to have been their chief. It was also a pleasure to work with Easton's leadership team, especially Town Administrator Read, Police Chief Gary Sullivan, Deputy Chief Keith Boone, DPW Director David Field, Building Commissioner Kevin Greiner and Health and Community Service Director Kristin Kennedy. Each and every one of them has been awesome to work with, no matter what kind of emergency we faced.

"I'd also like to thank the other department heads who make the town run as smoothly as it does, as well as the Select Board. I can't thank them enough for their true professionalism and friendship over the years."

During his time with the Easton Fire Department, he increased personnel numbers, created professional development opportunities, expanded Easton's ambulance services and capabilities and oversaw capital improvements in safety, technology, fleet and buildings.

Partridge was also Easton's emergency management director during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is difficult to put into words every aspect of a fire chief's work, especially Kevin's, but during his time in Easton he has served as a critical member of Easton's leadership team," Read said. "I am personally indebted to him as a confidant and leader from whom I have had the great fortune to learn so much. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Partridge's retirement is effective Oct. 21 and said he will stay on as the town's interim fire chief until a new chief is selected.

"The job wasn’t always easy, but coming to work every day and working with amazing people truly made my job worth it," said Partridge, who also thanked his family for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of his profession through the years. "It was a pleasure to serve this community and work with you all. I wish the Easton Fire Department and all those who I’ve had the opportunity to interact with throughout my tenure as chief the best."