From volunteer to fire chief: Wucik comes full circle in Preston
Oct. 15—PRESTON — Town officials did not have to look far to find a new fire chief, with the unanimous appointment Thursday of Keith Wucik, a lifelong resident who started his career as a volunteer firefighter and currently serves as a battalion chief with the Norwich Fire Department.
Wucik, 52, said he plans to retire soon from the Norwich department after nearly 24 years as a city paid firefighter. He starts in Preston on Nov. 16, and his appointment runs through June 30, 2025, at a starting salary of $90,000. He will succeed current Chief Tom Casey, who will retire in November. Casey was the first paid fire chief in Preston and also took the position after retiring as a Norwich firefighter.
Wucik thanked the board for the opportunity to serve Preston, where he has been active in town activities for much of his life. Wucik, a 1987 Norwich Free Academy graduate, started his fire career as a volunteer at the Poquetanuck Fire Department in Preston in March 1987 and served until January 1998. He started as a Norwich firefighter in March 1998.
Wucik rose through the ranks in Norwich, serving as a fire lieutenant, captain, fire marshal, shift commander and battalion chief. He was acting fire chief in Norwich from August 2019 to September 2020 while Norwich Chief Tracy Montoya was on active military duty. Wucik served as Preston fire marshal from January 2006 to February 2007. He has been active in Preston Little League for the past 14 years.
Wucik and his wife, Renee, have three children, Mackenzie, 18, Grayce, 17, and Joshua, 13.
Wucik said he became interested in the Preston position as his Norwich career is winding down. "My firefighting started in Preston, and I thought it would be nice to be able to finish where I started. It's a great opportunity. I've lived in Preston my whole life, and I know how great of a town it is, and if I can help out, that's great."
He will take over a mixed paid and volunteer department that has struggled in recent years to attract and retain trained volunteers to staff the Poquetanuck and Preston City fire stations. Casey has been lobbying for additional paid per diem or permanent staff. The town now has the full-time chief, a full-time fire captain and hires per diem firefighters to cover three shifts per day, seven days a week. Town officials plan to use COVID-19 federal relief grants to hire additional per diem firefighters.
Wucik said he would examine the volunteer situation and ways to recruit more volunteers once he starts his new position.
Casey said he has known Wucik since 1998 and called him "highly intelligent, a good tactician" and an excellent fit for Preston.
The town received 15 applications for the position this summer after Casey announced plans to retire this fall. First Selectwoman Sandra Allyn-Gauthier said the selection process was rigorous, with the town Emergency Services Advisory Committee reviewing the applications and fire chiefs from Waterford, Branford and Cheshire conducting interviews. The search committee recommended three finalists to the Board of Selectmen, which interviewed the three candidates before voting on Wucik's appointment Thursday.
