New Acting Fire Chief Named In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — Wallingford Deputy Fire Chief Samuel C. Wilson III has been named the town’s acting fire chief, Mayor Vincent Cervoni recently announced.

Wilson will lead the department, which includes 83 firefighters and support staff and more than 100 volunteer firefighters, following the recent retirement of Chief Joseph Czentnar.

Czentnar retired after serving 32 years with the department in a variety of roles. He started as a firefighter / EMT, and worked through the ranks from lieutenant to captain to battalion chief, deputy chief and was named chief in 2021, according to a post on the fire department’s Facebook page.

As acting fire chief, Wilson also serves as Wallingford’s Acting Emergency Management Director.

Wilson started with the department in 2007 as a firefighter / paramedic, and was promoted to lieutenant firefighter in 2016.

In 2019, Wilson became the first-ever EMS Lieutenant, according to a news release. Another promotion in 2020 gave him Deputy Chief of Administration and Operations responsibilities.

“While we are sad to see Chief Czentar retire as chief, we are grateful that Deputy Chief Wilson is willing to step up and manage the division while we conduct a search for a new fire chief,” Cervoni said in a statement.