Chester Fire Department Recognized Autiello’s Advancement

Chester, NH — September 2 — The Chester Fire Department honored Firefighter/EMT Nikola Autiello for completing his probationary period and being assigned as a full-duty per diem member.Autiello began working with the department in April 2026 and successfully finished the required probationary period before being given the new role.

The department noted that Autiello had become an important part of the team during his first few months on the job.

His promotion to full-duty per diem status added another qualified firefighter and EMT to the department’s available staffing.

Chester had recently expanded its per diem staffing program to enhance emergency response coverage.

According to the department’s 2025 town report, 24-hour per diem coverage was introduced on July 1, 2025, with certified personnel supporting the call members.This change helped reduce the average response time to approximately one minute.

The department handled 552 emergency calls in 2025, as recorded by the town.

The Chester Fire Department is based at 27 Murphy Drive and offers fire and emergency services to the community and nearby mutual-aid areas.

Autiello’s completion of probation added another full-time member to the department’s response team.