Fire Chief Bill Halstead was named the state’s Firefighter of the Year over the weekend. Halstead was recognized for his more than 50 years of service to the local and state community during a ceremony on Saturday, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue said in a Facebook post. Halstead is the director of emergency management and chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue. He has also served as fire marshal. The town’s emergency operations center was named the William T. Halstead Sr. building in his honor in 2011, according to the town’s website.