TURNER — The town’s new rescue chief, Toby Martin, began work this week.

Martin resides in New Gloucester and is retiring from his position in Bath, where he has been a firefighter paramedic for 25 years. He has an associate degree in paramedicine and one in fire science. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education and is two courses short of a master’s degree in technology education.

Martin taught part time in the EMT program at Region 10 Technical High School in Brunswick.

Since 1989, he has also been employed by United Ambulance.

Martin was recently hired by the town after former Chief Laurel Gagne resigned June 30. She was with Turner Rescue when it was founded in 1978.

Earlier this month, after weighing a variety of options for rescue services, including sharing coverage with other towns, the Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed to pursue hiring its own rescue chief with paramedic certification.

Martin and his wife have an 8-year-old son and another son and grandson who live in Lewiston.