A call to service: Jeff Denton named Stratham’s new fire chief

STRATHAM — Jeff Denton’s passion has always been about serving his community.

When he’s not up in the air flying JetBlue’s airbuses, he’s on the frontlines volunteering as a firefighter for the Stratham Fire Department.

With over 41 years of combined experience working for the Air National Guard and various fire crews, he was chosen to be the town’s next fire chief.

“The chief of the department is an extremely important position and one that I consider an honor to hold,” said Denton. “My number one motivation is and has always been to take care of people, not only the citizens we serve but also those department members who volunteer their time, skills and experience to help others in need.”

Denton replaces Matt Larrabee, who stepped down as chief due to a recent job promotion at the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant.

“He was not able to spend the time it would take to continue as the chief, so he stepped aside for the good of the department,” Denton said. “He is still an active member and will continue to advise me throughout the transition and beyond.”

Denton’s first introduction to fire service was three decades ago when he served as a firefighter and EMT at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. During his time with the Air National Guard, he held similar responsibilities at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Denton credits his career as a pilot to his father, who was a fighter pilot in the Air National Guard.

As a guard member, Denton spent 21 years at the Pease National Air Guard Base in Portsmouth, where he served in a number of positions including aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluator pilot.

He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2015 and started working for JetBlue Airways.

Why he volunteered to join Stratham Fire Department

Denton joined Statham’s all-volunteer Fire Department in 2012. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a lieutenant in 2016.

He considers himself lucky to have learned firefighting during the early years of his career in the Air National Guard so he could put it to use in Stratham.

“I saw an opportunity to help and was able to use my skills to better the community,” he said. “The camaraderie and teamwork aspect was also a motivation to continue with my firefighting career. I enjoy working with people, especially teams, to accomplish a shared goal, so the fire department was a perfect fit.”

For him, being a firefighter is another form of service.

“I think the part about the fire service I am most passionate about is just that – service,” said Denton. “Helping others has been a driving force in my life and as such, I gravitated towards it.”

He’s ready for the challenge

Denton said he realizes being a full-time pilot and the town’s chief will be a challenge. But he’s confident that he can do both.

“I currently hold a senior line on my aircraft, which affords me the ability to bid my flying schedule around my duties as chief more effectively,” he said. “There will be some things I will not be able to (be there for), but for the most part I feel I will be able to manage my duties with the help of my family.”

As for Stratham remaining one of the few all-volunteer departments in the state, Denton said it works for the town.

“I believe it is important to keep the volunteer spirit alive in our Fire Department, both as a member and as a taxpayer,” he said. “As long as we can keep providing the needed service to the town, it makes sense to continue to be a volunteer/ call department.”

Outside of work, Denton said he’s an avid guitar player and music lover. Although his schedule includes a lot of traveling, he said that family time is very important and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Geri, his two sons, Nicholas and Tyler, and their family dog, Yogi.