AUBURN – A veteran of the Fire Department has been promoted to second in command.

Auburn Fire Chief Wayne Werts announced Wednesday that Capt. Raymond R. Lussier Jr. has been promoted to the position of assistant chief.

Lussier has been a member of the department for 22 years. He was promoted to captain in 2001 and was appointed assistant chief this year. Lussier serves as the department’s hazardous materials officer. He is an instructor for Maine Fire Training and Education and is highly skilled in the delivery of Technical Rescue and Hazardous Materials courses and technical rescue operations planning, according to Werts.

Lussier is a member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Training and Program Development Team for the Maine Emergency Management’s Regional Response and Decon Strike teams. He lives in South Paris with his wife, Ellen.

Other promotions:

• Lt. Victor L. Mathieu to the rank of captain.

Mathieu has been a member of the department for more 18 years. He joined the department in 1986, was promoted to lieutenant in 2002 and to captain earlier this year. He is a certified emergency medical technician. Mathieu lives in Greene with his wife, Celeste, and two children.

• Lt. G. Scott Hunter to the rank of captain.

Hunter has been a member of the department for more than 11 years. He joined the department in 1994, was promoted to lieutenant in 2002 and to captain earlier this year. He is certified as an emergency medical technician. Scott lives in Otisfield and has served as the deputy fire chief of the Oxford Fire Department for the past six years.

• Private Richard P. Brown Jr. to the rank of lieutenant.

Brown has been a member of the department for more than 18 years. His father, Richard Brown Sr., retired from the department in 1995 after serving more than 20 years on the force. Richard Jr. joined the department in 1986 and was promoted to lieutenant this month. Brown is certified as an intermediate emergency medical technician, according to Werts. He lives in Auburn with his wife, Lisa.

• Private Donald J. Flanagan to lieutenant. Flanagan has been a member of the department for almost 10 years. He is also an instructor for Maine Fire Training and Education. Flanagan lives with his wife, Vickie, and two children in Monmouth.

To fill in the gaps left by promotions, Christopher Moretto was hired as Auburn’s newest firefighter. Moretto lives in Dixfield with his wife, Samantha, and two children.