ACTON — Town Manager John S. Mangiaratti is pleased to announce that Deputy Chief Anita Arnum will serve as Interim Fire Chief upon the retirement of Chief Robert Hart on June 25.

Deputy Arnum is already the highest-ranking woman in the history of the Acton Fire Department, and she will be the first female to serve as chief or interim chief.

Arnum began her career with the Acton Fire Department as a full-time firefighter in 1989. She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in January 2012 and named Captain in March 2017. She was named Deputy Chief and Town Emergency Management Director in November 2020.

Arnum has a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology and Chemistry from UMass Amherst, and a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science from Anna Maria College. She is also a graduate of the Grants Management Certificate Program from Management Concepts, and a graduate of the Chief Fire Officer Training Program at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute.

Arnum is a state and nationally registered paramedic, a member of the State Hazmat Response Team, and a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Search and Rescue System. She is also certified in numerous technical rescue fields, and is qualified as an instructor/trainer in EMS, hazmat, firefighting, and technical rescue.

Arnum helped guide the Town of Acton through the COVID-19 pandemic, providing testing, vaccination clinics and procuring difficult to obtain personal protective equipment for firefighters.

She is also known for fostering positive relationships between town departments and the community, and constantly seeks out opportunities for the Department to train, grow, and work with other communities to stay at the forefront of technology.

"Deputy Chief Arnum has been a great leader within the Acton Fire Department, and I look forward to her continued leadership and mentorship of firefighters in her role as Interim Chief," said Town Manager Mangiaratti.