After a 30-year career as a firefighter and fire chief in Westchester, James Adams is coming home to Brookfield.
Raised in Brookfield, Adams will step into the role of Brookfield fire chief on April 6, chosen from a field of seven final candidates, two of them internal.
He replaces Fire Chief Mark Duffek, who retired in December after a 38-year career. Capt. Brian Baldwin had served as interim chief during the search for Duffek's successor.
"I'm really excited to get back there," said Adams, who attended St. Barbara School and Nazareth Academy and lived in Brookfield until the age of 23.
Adams will be the Brookfield first fire chief who was not promoted to the post from within. Ed Bermann, the retired longtime fire captain and departmental historian, told the Landmark that the village has had just eight fire chiefs in its history, all of whom came up through the ranks in Brookfield.