OXFORD — Town Manager Butch Asselin will name six people to interview candidates for fire chief.

The group will include selectmen, business owners, a department head and a Planning Board member.

“The panel will recommend three candidates for an interview with me,” Asselin said. “If I find a suitable person, I will then make him/her a conditional offer of employment, complete a background investigation, drug screening and then bring the name to the selectmen.”

The appointee will replace Fire Chief Gary Sacco, 63, who died March 10 in Portland where he was attending the funeral of Berwick Fire Capt. Joel Barnes, who died fighting a house fire a week earlier.

Sacco, a veteran fire educator and former fire chief in New Gloucester, had served almost two years as Oxford fire chief.

Asselin did not say how many have applied for fire chief.

The deadline for applications is May 3.

The town is looking for qualified individuals who have a proven success leading a small municipal fire and rescue department and a minimum of five years management level experience in a similar sized department, according to the job posting.

Other criteria include a demonstrable knowledge of fire/rescue/ambulance operations and procedures, certifications for Firefighter II or higher, Basic EMT and National Incident Management Systems, and familiarity with municipal budgeting.

Oxford Fire & Rescue Department has a combined annual budget of about $698,000 and a workforce of 30 to 40 per diem firefighters and EMS personnel.