Old Town will once again have a fire chief

Old Town has opted to hire a fire chief instead of filling its public safety director position, which has been vacant since mid-December.

Kyle Milan, who was hired last September as the deputy chief, began his role as chief on Monday. Before joining Old Town’s department, he spent 22 years in the Maine Air National Guard. He was a firefighter and climbed the ranks to become chief overseeing the Bangor International Airport, he said.

Old Town’s former public safety director, Scott Wilcox, stepped down in December to become chief executive officer at the Old Town-Orono YMCA. He held the position for six years. The city had plans to fill the position and began advertising it in January, City Manager Bill Mayo said previously .

Mayo was not available to comment Monday about why the city chose to go a different route.

Milan noted that both Old Town’s fire and police departments had second-in-command people with the confidence and experience to lead.

“The department has a great group of people, and I have really enjoyed helping lead them in the community,” he said about his new role as chief.

Milan, who will oversee 24 firefighters, plans to “continue on and prove that Old Town is a top-notch fire response agency in the area,” he said.

He hopes to bring back traditions like a gathering for former and retired firefighters at the department. A reunion is set for September.