Candidate for Second Vice President
Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts
Chief Justin Woodside – Weston Fire Department
September 17, 2026
I am honored to announce my candidacy for Second Vice President of the Fire Chiefs
Association of Massachusetts for 2027.
I currently serve as the Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director for the Town
of Weston, where I have had the opportunity to lead a suburban fire department
through the many challenges and opportunities facing the fire service today. My
experience in this position, combined with the opportunity to continue serving as a
chief for years to come, has given me a perspective that I believe can be valuable to
FCAM and its membership.
As the Chief of a smaller suburban combination department, I understand that no two fire departments operate exactly
the same way. Weston maintains a career staff while also utilizing a small call firefighter component to supplement
our workforce. This model has given me firsthand experience with the challenges of recruitment, hiring, training,
staffing, retention, and maintaining operational readiness in a smaller community.
At the same time, our department works closely with larger and smaller departments throughout the Commonwealth
through mutual aid, regional organizations, training, emergency management, and shared response resources. These
experiences have reinforced something I believe strongly: while our departments may look different, the issues
affecting the fire service are often remarkably similar.
Whether you lead a small call department, a combination department, or a large career organization, we all want the
same things—safe firefighters, well-trained personnel, adequate resources, strong communities, and the ability to
provide the highest level of service possible.
That is the perspective I want to bring to FCAM.
I am running because I believe FCAM is at its strongest when we speak with a unified voice. As Second Vice
President, I want to listen to chiefs from across Massachusetts and make sure the concerns of our individual
departments are part of the larger conversation.
Our profession continues to face new laws, regulations, policies, and directives from the Massachusetts Legislature,
state agencies, boards, and commissions. These decisions can have significant impacts on how we operate our
departments and protect our communities. I believe FCAM has an important role in making sure the fire service has a
strong seat at that table and that the perspective of Massachusetts fire chiefs is clearly understood.
I want to help ensure that every department has a voice at FCAM—regardless of size, staffing model, or location. My
goal is to help bring those voices together, identify the issues we share, and work collaboratively toward solutions that
benefit the fire service as a whole.
I am asking for your support and your consideration for FCAM Second Vice President in 2027. I look forward to
working with chiefs from across the Commonwealth, learning from your experiences, representing your interests, and
helping ensure that the Massachusetts fire service continues to move forward together.
Justin Woodside
Fire Chief & Emergency Management Director
Town of Weston, Massachusetts