Exeter fire chief to retire after four decades of service: 'I’ve loved my job'
EXETER — Fire Chief Eric Wilking has always ascribed to that old saying, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
It’s a philosophy that stuck with him throughout his career, and it’s one that will stay with him as he prepares for retirement. After nearly 42 years as a dedicated member of the fire service, Wilking has announced he will retire as Exeter’s fire chief on April 19.
“Anybody that says they don’t have mixed emotions when they retire from a career like this is lying to you,” he said as he reflected on his decades of service and his nearly 20 years serving the town of Exeter.
Wilking, who turns 60 this year, joined the department as an assistant fire chief and training officer in 2005 and served in those roles before taking over as chief in April 2020 after the retirement of former Chief Brian Comeau.
A decision on his replacement has not yet been made.
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Wilking career in fire service spans 42 years
Wilking’s interest in fire service was sparked when he was just a 10-year-old boy in 1974 and started hanging out with his father, who was a lieutenant and later became chief of the fire department in his hometown of Eddington, Maine. As a kid, he would tag along for training and the occasional controlled burn. After graduating from high school, Wilking received a degree in fire protection from Lakes Region Community College. While attending school, he served as an intern firefighter commonly known as a “live-in student” with the Gilford Fire Department.
Following graduation, he was hired by Laconia Fire Equipment (later known as Tri-State Fire Protection) where he designed and installed fire protection systems and equipment from 1984 to 1997. After moving to Belmont in 1987, Wilking began working as a call firefighter and was later promoted to lieutenant. He needed a change of pace from the private sector by 1997, at which time he was hired as a captain to staff the New Hampshire Fire Academy, where he helped supervise 200 instructors teaching firefighter training programs. His career eventually led him to Exeter.
“The town we work for is such a great town and has always been supportive of the Fire Department in general. We’ve been able to do what many cities and towns find difficult. We’ve been able to stay on a regular replacement cycle to replace our engines, our ladders and our ambulances. We have equipment here that’s second to none,” he said. “We’ve done a great job handling 3,900 calls a year with seven members on duty. There are cities and towns with far fewer calls but have far more staff. The workload for our members is tremendous, and they do it with a smile on their face.”
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Wilking proud of his accomplishments in Exeter
During his time with Exeter, Wilking has seen significant growth in call volume while at the same time, he and others within the department have worked to build stronger relationships with community partners like Phillips Exeter Academy and Exeter Hospital.
“I’d like to think I’ve made a difference here during my time as assistant chief and the last four years as chief. I’ve tried to humanize the fire service and offer a service to the public that’s second to none. We’re proud of our paramedic service and it’s no surprise that the emergency medical side has taken a front seat. We’ve done a marvelous job, through a series of fire inspectors over the years, making Exeter one of the most fire safe communities in the state,” he said.
His plans for retirement come even while he’s been focused on efforts to spread the word about Article 4 on the March 12 ballot, which calls for the construction of a new police station with a fire substation on Continental Drive to address safety and space needs of both departments.
Wilking’s achievements as chief include organizing and helping to lead the first Type 3 Incident Management Team in New Hampshire with Portsmouth Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles and the Seacoast Chief Fire Officers Mutual Aid District; serving as chairman on the New Hampshire Fire Standards and Training Commission in 2019; and serving on the New Hampshire Emergency Medical Trauma and Coordinating Board in 2021.
He said he also feels one of his greatest accomplishments was his focus on strengthening the sense of camaraderie and family at the firehouse, ensuring open lines of communication, and improving collaboration.
During his retirement, Wilking hopes to be able to spend more time with his wife, Linda, who was one of the first female career firefighters in the state, his son and his family, and his grandson, Brecken. With more than 25 years of experience in horse and carriage driving with his wife, he also plans to focus on his work as a horse show official with the American Driving Society.
“I’ve loved my job and the people here in Exeter. I’ve enjoyed working with Town Manager Russ Dean and several different Select Boards over the nearly 20 years. We have a great leadership team in this town, and even with me stepping aside and the next chief coming in, it’ll still be a great leadership team. I think this town is poised to move in a positive direction,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Fire Chief Eric Wilking to retire after 40 plus years
