Longtime New Concord Fire Department officer and firefighter Matthew Hamsher was appointed as the 10th chief of the New Concord Fire Department since 1900. The New Concord Fire Department has operated continuously since its founding in 1846.
Following an affirmative vote from New Concord Village Council on Monday March 8, Chief Hamsher’s swearing-in ceremony took place on March 9 in the New Concord Village Park, officiated by Mayor Jennifer Lyle, with many NCFD members, village employees and village council members in attendance, as well as his wife and daughters.
Chief Hamsher began as a volunteer with the department in 2005, was promoted to lieutenant in 2013 and became captain later that year when the department changed from volunteer to part-time paid. As captain he was tasked with overseeing EMS operations and quality assurance and improvement for the department. The new chief is a paramedic with a bachelor’s degree in emergency management and fire science. He is also certified as a HAZMAT Tech, Firefighter II, Fire-Safety Inspector, and Fire Instructor. Matt brings experience in multiple capacities with a variety of fire departments along with his ongoing NCFD service. As is common in the profession, Chief Hamsher will continue as Engineer with the Dover Fire Department along with his full-time duties in New Concord.
Chief Hamsher and his wife Lindsey reside just outside of New Concord with their daughters, Charlotte and Caroline.