Hudson Fire Chief Bryan Johannes confirms he'll call it quits in January

HUDSON — Fire Chief Bryan Johannes has announced that he's retiring from the Fire Department early next year.

Johannes' last official day will be Jan. 14, but he said he'll likely use vacation time after the new year through that time.

"A lot of mixed emotions with making that kind of decision," said Johannes, 60. "There were a lot of things I was hoping to accomplish, but I didn't get to everything."

Johannes, a Marlborough native, joined the Hudson Fire Department in 1988 as a call firefighter after serving in the Navy.

He became a full-time firefighter in 2001 and a lieutenant in 2014. He became acting fire chief in July 2019 and was named permanent fire chief in October of that year, replacing John Blood, who had resigned in 2018.

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Johannes' plans were first revealed during a July 10 Select Board meeting. At the time, he called it a "personal decision," and he reiterated that Tuesday.

"There's a lot of personal reasons," he said. "Mainly it's for more time to spend with my family while I still have my health."

During the July 10 meeting, Board Chairman Scott Duplisea said Johannes became chief at a difficult time. Blood had retired in May 2018 after he made what WCVB-TV described as "dozens of unusual purchases he made and billed to the town." Blood admitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding.

"I'd like to personally thank you for stepping up at the time," Duplisea said to Johannes.

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Executive Secretary Thomas Gregory said Tuesday that a search for a new chief will be conducted, although details have yet to be determined.

Although retiring as Hudson's fire chief, Johannes said he probably continue working in some capacity.

"I'm probably not going to retire-retire," he said. "There are a few opportunities to do some possible outside consulting and things of that nature."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hudson Fire Chief Bryan Johannes will retire in January