PHOTOS: Anthony Burgard was sworn in as the new chief of the Hartford Fire and Rescue Department Wednesday during the city’s Police and Fire Commission meeting.
Burgard, 41, was chief of the Richfield Volunteer Fire Company for the past four years. He started with that department in 2004.
After taking the oath of office, administered by City Clerk Shanna Kreilkamp before a crowd of family, friends and colleagues, Burgard thanked those who helped him through life, "whether it be my family that physically raised me, my fire family that taught me (especially past Chief Terry Kohl of Richfield), and my beautiful wife and children that have helped support me and everything that I’ve done in the past."
During remarks to the commission, Burgard said: "I will do my best to continue pushing Hartford through to be the best that it can be, falling on the back of [retired] Chief [Paul] Stephans and everything great that he has done."