Palmer hires new fire chief

PALMER — After a long, exhaustive search, Palmer has hired a fire chief.

John McNutt is set to take the reigns of the department at the end of May. He is a 12-year veteran firefighter who will come to Alaska from Whitehouse, Ohio, a community near Toledo.

In Ohio, McNutt is the assistant fire chief for an Air National Guard Base and an officer with a local volunteer fire department.

The position has been vacant since Dan Contini, who served as chief for 40 years, retired at the end of last year.

Jon Owen, the city’s director of public safety, said the interview process was tough with a cadre of talented applicants vying for the seat, including Homer’s fire chief and Bruce Axtell, who has filled in for Contini since his retirement.

“It got to where the decision was made based on who would be the best fit for our department rather than on just qualifications, because we had four very qualified people who were applicants,” Owen said.

In the end, McNutt won out and, Owen said, will be a good fit.

“John displays a combination of humility and leadership,” Owen said. “He has a military bearing and just a quiet confidence.”