BELGRADE — The town has hired its first full-time firefighter/paramedic, the same person who is already rescue captain for the town’s fire and rescue service.

Travis Burton, 34, a native of Belgrade, was introduced officially Tuesday night to the Board of Selectpersons by the fire and rescue Chief Daniel MacKenzie during a brief meeting that preceded a public hearing by the state Department of Transportation concerning improvements to Main Street in Belgrade village.

“So far the support’s been great,” Burton said this week. “This is a good opportunity to make sure the town has emergency medical services and fire services and just helps our fire and rescue department grow.”

Burton has held an emergency medical services certificate for 15 years and been working with Delta Ambulance since 2005. He’s been a paramedic for the past few years. Burton said he will continue working with Delta on a per diem basis.

Burton has been a volunteer firefighter with the Belgrade department since 1995.

He said his duties will include rotating among the town’s three fire stations — Belgrade Lakes, Depot and North Belgrade — and doing upkeep and updating logs.

“Most times I will have the rescue truck with me for when there is a call,” he said.

While the town provides emergency medical services up to the paramedic level, Delta Ambulance transports people to the hospital.

In March, the town voted to hire a full-time employee who would be a rescue/firefighter I and II, to work 40 hours a week; and a per-diem person working 10 hours a week.

The cost was listed at $29,350 for a six-month period because it was expected to take so long to advertise, interview and then hire candidates.

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