New Fire Chief Hired In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — Former longtime Bridgeport firefighter James Buck has been hired as the new fire chief in Wallingford, Mayor Vincent Cervoni announced Thursday.

Buck started as a firefighter with the Bridgeport Fire Department in 1994. He rose through the ranks as lieutenant, safety officer, and captain, before becoming the deputy chief of operations in 2019.

Buck retired from the City of Bridgeport as the executive officer in 2022 to become the deputy chief of operations in Stratford.

“Throughout his fire career, Buck has been an integral part of the incident management team at major incidents,” according to a news release from the Mayor’s Office. “He has also served as the Emergency Management Director for the Town of North Branford since 2015 and was named Bridgeport Firefighter of the Year in 2016.”

Buck holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety Administration and an Associate’s Degree in Emergency Management with a concentration in Fire Science. He has also completed training at the National Fire Academy, Texas A&M Engineering Extension, and many FEMA courses.

“Becoming an IAFF Fireground Safety and Survival Instructor is a special source of pride,” he said.

Cervoni said Buck “brings a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to lead the fire department.”

“We are excited for the department members and the residents of Wallingford,” Cervoni said.

Buck has served on many boards and committees. He began serving as a Bridgeport Fire Pension Trustee in 2005, and later became Treasurer.

“Additionally, he has served on the North Haven Fire Volunteer Committee, interviewing new applicants, as well as the North Haven Fire Pension Board,” according to the news release. “He has also volunteered on the Hamden CERT. During the last 10 years, he has attended CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Region 2 Steering Committee meetings, serving as the chair of Resource Management and vice-chair of Emergency Management.”

Buck’s appointment is effective Aug. 29.