New Fire Chief Appointed In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Deputy Fire Chief Jermaine Atkinson has been named Stratford’s new fire chief, Mayor Laura R. Hoydick announced Wednesday.

Atkinson, a member of the department since July 2001, has served as deputy chief since last June. He also serves as deputy emergency management director. He was previously training captain and safety officer for the fire department.

“Jermaine Atkinson has performed excellently over the past year as our deputy chief working alongside Chief Lampart,” Hoydick said in a news release. “He has had an outstanding and distinguished career as a firefighter here in the Town of Stratford, and is equally respected throughout the State of Connecticut. He has been an essential part of our Town’s emergency response framework in each of the roles he has held up to now, and I am looking forward to seeing Jermaine step up to this new role and apply his skills, professionalism, and leadership as our new Fire Chief.”

Current Fire Chief Brian Lampart recently announced he was retiring after more than 30 years of service with the Stratford Fire Department.

“I am excited to embrace this new role as Fire Chief for the Town of Stratford,” Atkinson said. “I've grown up here in the department under the guidance and direction of many skilled leaders like Chief Lampart, and I look forward to this challenging new leadership role and moving our fire department forward. I'm committed to the citizens of Stratford, and continuing to provide high quality service and professionalism in all aspects of emergency service and fire prevention. I'm also grateful to have highly- trained, efficient fire department personnel ready to meet any challenge that we face in service to our citizens – it is an honor to lead the men and women of this department. I appreciate the Mayor’s confidence in my skills and abilities and look forward to this new opportunity.”

Atkinson served as a Stratford Firefighter until June 2011, when he was promoted to Lieutenant. In 2016, he was promoted to Captain/Safety Officer where he coordinated and directed the training operations for the full fire department, coordinated EMS training for the department to maintain compliance, and created training lessons and objectives for required OSHA mandates among his many duties. Atkinson was named Deputy Chief of the Stratford Fire Department in June 2021.

The promotion takes effect on July 1.