ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Assistant Chief Chris Hamilton of the Ithaca Fire Department is retiring.

Hamilton began volunteering with IFD as a bunker in 1994 and was hired as a career firefighter in 2001.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 2020 and became assistant fire chief in 2024. Hamilton has served as fire marshal for the last several years. Colleagues call him an essential part of improving community safety.

Hamilton called it a career on Wednesday, January 28.

The following day, 21-year IFD firefighter Adam Buck retired. Buck, who joined IFD in January 2005, has been in the fire service since 1994. He worked as avolunteer firefighter, dispatcher, and EMT over his career.

He retires as the senior firefighter on A shift and driver/operator of the ladder truck.