WELLS — Wayne D. Vetre has been sworn in as the fire chief of the Town of Wells.

In a formal ceremony held at the Wells Corner Station on Nov. 1, about 75 people were present as the Wells Fire Department did a posting of the colors, followed by a welcome from Town Manager Jonathan Carter and a blessing from WFD Chaplin Pastor Dan Moore.

Michele Stivaletta-Noble, Wells town deputy clerk, performed the swearing in, followed with a pinning of the badge ceremony by Chief Vetre’s wife, Jackie.

Upon completion of the swearing in, Vetre was congratulated by family members, town officials, and more than 15 firefighters he served with in Guilford, Connecticut.

Town officials say they are fortunate to have had the opportunity to bring such a well-received and dedicated individual into the Wells community. 

Vetre comes to Wells from the position of assistant fire chief in Guilford, which has a population of 24,000. He served there in a combination department consisting of 35 career and 62 volunteer personnel with a $4.2 million budget and 3,600 calls a year. 

His career with the Guilford Fire Department saw him rise through the ranks starting in 1994 to become assistant chief there since 2005. Prior to that, Vetre served as a firefighter/EMT with the East Haven Connecticut Fire Department.

Following a lengthy recruitment process that produced 37 applicants, Carter and the Wells Board of Selectmen announced in August the appointment of Vetre as its fourth full-time fire chief since the Wells Fire Department consolidated under a single chief in 1988.