Longtime Augusta Fire Chief To Retire

According to the KJ, Roger Audette, the longest-tenured fire chief for the City of Augusta is getting ready to retire.

The 55 year old Augusta icon was initially going to retire in the spring of 2020.  However, given the ongoing situation with the pandemic, he did not feel it was the right time to walk away from the job.

Audette was hired by the department in 1993 and became chief in 2005.  Audette's last day on the job will be December 11th.

Of the most-memorable incidents from his career, Audette says one of the most-rewarding calls came in 1997, when he helped rescue a 5-year-old boy who was trapped in a burning tractor-trailer.

After he retires, he plans to spend more time working with his sons on the family construction business.  He also plans to join the Winthrop Fire Department, where he was employed before making the jump to the Augusta Fire Department in 1993.

While no replacement has been announced, Deputy Chief David Groder has announced he plans to apply for the job.

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