NORTHAMPTON — Andrew Pelis will be the new assistant chief of Northampton Fire Rescue. The city announced on Monday that Mayor David Narkewicz and soon-to-be fire chief Jon Davine appointed Pelis, currently the department’s deputy chief, to the position.
Pelis grew up in Northampton and has worked at the Fire Department since 1998.
“I’m proud to have served alongside Andy for years and he’s earned this expanded role supporting me and the department as we work to serve the residents of Northampton,” Davine said in a statement.
On Thursday, the City Council approved Davine as fire chief. He will be sworn in on Friday at 4 p.m. at the department’s headquarters. The position of assistant fire rescue chief does not require City Council approval, according to the Mayor’s office, and Pelis also be sworn in on Friday.
Davine, who is originally from Adams and currently lives in Easthampton, has been working at the Fire Department since 1998 and became assistant fire chief in 2015. He is taking the reins from Fire Chief Duane Nichols, who announced his retirement after more than 30 years working at the city’s Fire Department.
At Thursday’s City Council meeting, Councilor Bill Dwight said Davine is “uniquely and distinctly qualified for the position.”