Seth Thomas
Town of Brattleboro
Communications Coordinato
…
Brattleboro Fire Department
103 Elliot Street * Brattleboro, VT 05301 * 802-254-4831 *
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Jay Symonds Charles Keir III
Chief Assistant Chief
Focused, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence
Brattleboro Fire Chief Jay Symonds Announces Military Leave;
Interim Leadership Named
Fire Chief Jay Symonds has received military orders requiring him to take an approximately one-year leave of absence from the Town of Brattleboro. Symonds, who serves as both Fire Chief and a member of the United States military, will depart in the first week of October to fulfill his military obligations.
“Serving the people of Brattleboro has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” said Symonds. “Public service has always been a guiding principle in my life, whether in the fire service or the military. While I am humbled by the opportunity to serve our nation during this deployment, I leave knowing the fire department and emergency management organization will continue to be guided by dedicated professionals committed to this community.”
To ensure continuity of operations during Chief Symonds’ military leave, Peter Lynch will serve as Interim Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director. Lynch will work alongside the department’s leadership team to oversee fire and EMS operations, emergency preparedness, incident management, and departmental functions, ensuring continued delivery of the high level of service the community expects.
“The Brattleboro Fire Department has a strong leadership team and highly dedicated membership,” said Symonds. “I am confident the department will continue delivering the professional, reliable service that the Brattleboro community expects and deserves during my absence. The commitment of our members and officers will ensure that Brattleboro remains well served and well prepared.”
Lynch joined the Brattleboro Fire Department as a firefighter in 1984. He advanced through the ranks to Assistant Fire Chief, a position he held for nine years. In 2016, he transitioned from the department to become the Chief of Fire Service Training at the Vermont Fire Academy, later returning to the Town as the Assistant Director of Public Works in 2022.
Chief Symonds will return to the department following completion of his military assignment.
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Good Luck Chief Symonds!
It’s sad and pisses me off that people are being called up again.
Timing seems fishy
October deployment to… local polling stations? : )
Fishy Times we live in
I’m thinking Hormuz, since Herr Drumpf thinks he owns it now. Or Canada.
Taking away Brattleboro's fire chief? Better be for a darn good reason.
Brattleboro can’t afford to send employees, especially heads of departments, off for vague reasons. If the Town does volunteer someone, the reason better be spectacular. Whims of a FOX news host and/or a convicted, impeached ex-reality show host are very weak grounds.
Lots of guard deployments right now are in the US, in cities such as DC. This story in USA Today talks about extended guard stays in DC starting… October 2026. They stay until Jan 2029. Costs us 1.4 billion.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/04/national-guard-dc-washington-1-4billion/91168033007/
If this is the deployment, or to some other US city to harass people, I’d be most impressed to see the called-up guard members say “no thanks, ain’t goin’…”
If it is to go stand at polls in November to intimidate voters, they should definitely refuse orders.
If it is to go overseas… I could almost see a point to helping if it was something like, uh, supplying ships with things they need. But even that is in support an illegal war.
If Brattleboro’s Fire Chief is sent to do harassment or intimidation or to follow illegal orders, Brattleboro may have a problem with that. : )