TUNBRIDGE — The fire chief refused to comply with a new law designating him as forest fire warden, but the town government can fall back on its longtime warden, thanks to an exception in the rules.
“I was actually quite surprised by the way the rolled it out,” Brenda Field, a fire warden of 55 years, said of the sudden change.
The selectboard voted unanimously Wednesday to reappoint Field as forest fire warden, despite the state’s instruction that she and other non-chiefs across Vermont step down from the job July 1.
Act 162 mandated that fire chiefs serve automatically as a town’s forest fire warden, with permission to appoint a deputy warden. Fire Chief Simon Bradford opted not to take on this role, and the town has gone nearly a month without burn permits.
“People are really understanding of the situation we’re in,” former fire chief John Durkee said after the meeting.
Field pointed out that the no-permits period came at a time where conditions were wet and safe for burning. She received about 20 permit requests that she was not authorized to fulfill.
Luckily, the state offered a solution.
The Agency of Natural Resources’ information page for Act 162 specifies that the chief of a private fire department may decline the position, in which case the state recommends the town’s selectboard appoint someone else as warden.
The Tunbridge Volunteer Fire Department is an independent nonprofit that provides services in Tunbridge, though it’s not technically a town department, Bradford said. This exception in the law does not apply to other volunteer fire departments under the town umbrella.
The appointee must be able to perform duties and be reachable, with a preference for those who have experience at a local department, the information page said.
For Tunbridge, the initial change was unwelcome, and came on short notice.
In responding to criticism over last-minute notification, the agency specified that Act 162 was one of the last bills to pass in executive session, and was signed by Gov. Phil Scott June 16.
Durkee expressed concern that legislators did not thoughtfully consider the bill before passing it.
Before information about the exception became available, Bradford started a petition in opposition to the new rule, calling for signatures from other chiefs. He pointed out that fire chiefs, especially for volunteer departments, don’t have time to take on more responsibility.
While the law allowed the chief to appoint a deputy warden, Bradford noted that the primary role still comes with additional expectations and a time commitment.
Field thinks the state does not have a grasp on how rural departments are run.
“He puts in so much time, they have no idea,” Field said of Bradford. “No one ever consulted him.”
The warden participates in forest fire suppression, submits fire reports, keeps records and issues permits to kindle fire. Field has had an active role in educating newcomers on safe practices through site visits, which she said she is always happy to do.
Field has served as forest fire warden for the past five decades, but the department and town received notification late last month that her services would no longer be needed.
On July 14, the Agency of Natural Resources reached out to fire chiefs, directing them to a frequently-asked-questions page to address their questions and concerns surrounding Act 162.
As for the purpose of this law, the agency cited an increase in forest fires, and survey responses from chiefs across the state who proposed “clarifying lines of authority, defining fire categories, setting clear reporting requirements, and spelling out what’s allowed during times of fire risk” as methods of prevention, according to the site.
As of Tuesday, there had been 65 wildfires in Vermont so far in 2026 — more than occurred in the entirety of 2023. Last year, there were 84 total wildfires, which is a decrease from the 99 fires in 2024.
Field recalled participating in a questionnaire shared with the department earlier in the year regarding areas of improvement, but had no idea the state would uproot her position, she said.
A primary goal was to ensure the fire chief oversees the fires in his or her municipality, as opposed to a third-party individual who may not have the proper experience ahead of appointment or work well with the fire chief.
“In most cases, fire chiefs have already been leading forest fire suppression efforts along with the fire department,” the page said.
The state previously compensated Field at about $35 to $45 per year, she said. Now it’s up to the town to determine a rate, though Field noted that will be more important for her replacement.
“I don’t care about compensation. This is more about trying to get our town in a better position to move forward,” Field said.
The selectboard must still determine how to structure the forest fire warden’s pay and insurance coverage, as it’s not yet clear whether Field would be considered a town or fire department employee.
One thing is for sure: When it’s time for Field to pass the torch to a new warden, the rollout will be better than how the state handled it, she said.
