WILMINGTON, MA — At last week’s Board of Selectmen Meeting, Town Manager Jeff Hull announced that he has appointed Deputy Chief Bill Cavanaugh as the town’s next Fire Chief.
Cavanaugh will replace current Fire Chief Joe McMahon, who is slated to retire in February 2020.
Deputy Fire Chief Cavanaugh has served as a Wilmington firefighter since 2007. He was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 2014, serving as the Town’s Fire Prevention Officer, and later to Deputy Fire Chief in April 2018.
“Bill climbed the ladder quickly, so to speak,” joked Town Manager Jeff Hull.
In 2016, Cavanaugh obtained and administered a grant through the National Fire Prevention Association to assist elders. In conjunction with Elderly Services Director Terri Marciello, he completed a training regiment on instructing elders on fire and fall prevention. Cavanaugh and Marciello provided instruction to 32 seniors over a six-month period on ways to be safe in their homes.
More recently, as Deputy Chief, Cavanaugh was instrumental in securing a $1.5 million federal grant, which enabled the town to hire 8 new firefighters.
Prior to his employment with the Town, Cavanaugh served for over four years in the United States Navy before receiving an honorable discharge.
Hull noted he was struck by Cavanaugh’s passion for fire and EMS service, and his desire to always improve himself professionally, constantly picking up new skills.
“Thank you for your service to our country and our community,” Selectmen Chair Greg Bendel said to Cavanaugh. “It’s nice to see another homegrown resident ascend to such a high position within our community. We congratulate you and wish you well.”
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