Natick Select Board picks new fire chief. Learn more about his career
NATICK — The town has its new fire chief.
The Select Board on Wednesday unanimously voted to offer the position to Westborough Deputy Fire Chief Jason Ferschke.
Ferschke beat out internal candidate Daniel Dow, a deputy fire chief in Natick, as well as Weymouth Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Murphy.
"We received three very good, qualified applicants, any of which could have done a great job for the town of Natick," board member Bruce Evans said after the vote.
The appointment is pending negotiation of a contract and background check. Ferschke will replace Chief Michael Lentini, who retired earlier this month.
Select Board Chairman Paul Joseph said there were 15 people who applied for the position. A screening committee comprised of town volunteers and staff narrowed that list to six. One candidate dropped out, and an assessment center forwarded Ferschke, Dow and Murphy as the three finalists.
The Select Board interviewed all three finalists last week and met with them again on Saturday before Wednesday's vote.
Ferschke could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, but according to his resume, he has been with the Westborough Fire Department since 2007, working his way up through the ranks until he was appointed deputy chief in 2016.
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Ferschke holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in public administration. He is a certified paramedic. He also took a 14-week course through the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be a chief fire officer.
Outside of firefighting, Ferschke enjoys coaching youth soccer and football, as well as woodworking, fishing, gardening and running. He has participated in 150-mile bike rides to raise money for multiple sclerosis and took part in a charity stair climb — wearing his firefighting gear as he climbed 42 flights — to raise money for lung cancer awareness.
Ferschke has said he is in charge of Westborough's fire prevention division, which includes the oversight of permitting, reviewing and inspection of more than 1.8 million square feet of of new commercial development.
Joseph acknowledged that there was a "very strong internal candidate" in Dow, but said he felt Ferschke was the right choice as the town "is undergoing a lot of changes right now."
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Natick names Westborough Deputy Chief Jason Ferschke as fire chief
