SABATTUS — The town has a new full-time fire chief.

H. Adam Thacker Sabattus Fire Department

Acting Chief Robert Gayton announced Wednesday that at 8 a.m.Monday, H. Adam Thacker will take over as chief of the department. It will be an historic moment as the town installs its first full-time fire chief.

The department held a swearing in ceremony Friday afternoon

Thacker, who began his career as a junior firefighter in Sawsmill, North Carolina, in 2002, has been serving as firefighter on the Sabattus force since February of 2023. He was one of four full-time firefighters hired with the help of a $2 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Thacker spent six years in the U.S. Army while also working at various fire and rescue services. He has an associate degree in emergency planning technology and a bachelor’s degree in theology.

Once Thacker takes over Monday, Gayton will resume his duties as assistant fire chief after serving more than a year as an acting chief. Gayton did not want the full-time position, but had stressed that the town badly needed a full-time chief.

For one, he said at the town meeting in May, a full-time chief will be responding to the majority of calls during the daytime — the department is already at 316 calls for fire service for the year.

He also said the chief will handle administrative tasks such as scheduling, payroll, budgeting, report management, training and seeking grants.

A full-time chief, Gayton said, will also handle public education and fire prevention for the town and he or she will be responsible for community follow-up with residents.

On Friday, Gayton announced the appointment of Thacker as chief in a Facebook post and expressed his approval.

“The town, the organization, and the membership will be in great hands,” he wrote.