A ceremonial pinning Monday officially recognized the start of service for Jason Wells as Lexington’s 19th fire chief.
During the ceremony, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said the new chief will be faced with pressing issues. “In the next months we will have thousands of vaccines to administer. There are pressures on our budget. Our city is growing, creating new demand on our firefighters,” said Gorton.
Wells takes over for retiring Fire Chief Kristin Chilton. Mayor Gorton said Wells becomes the city’s new head of firefighting as Lexington prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the fire department.
During the ceremony Wells said the department will continue to change with the times to serve Lexington. He added, quote, “the only way to accomplish our mission is to do it together.” “In these times where divisiveness seems more common than unity, I ask you to remember, our mission is service and we accomplish it together. United we serve,” said Wells.
Wells told those gathered his father, Jim Well is perhaps his most influential mentor. The elder Wells, who served in the Lexington Fire Department for 27 years, did the honor of pinning the badge on his son.?
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