Town of Rye Names Eric Lambert as New Fire Chief

RYE — The Town of Rye, the Town of Rye Select Board, and the Rye Fire Department have named Eric Lambert as the new Fire Chief, following the retirement of Chief Mark Cotreau. 

Lambert has over 35 years of experience in the fire service. He began his career at 16 years old when, by chance, he had the opportunity to join the Allenstown Fire Department as a Junior Firefighter. 

Lambert, however, was no stranger to the fire service. He has four family members who have had careers in fire departments across New Hampshire.

Following his start in Allenstown, Lambert then joined the Hudson Fire Department in 2001, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant, coordinated numerous training programs, and maintained a role on the Apparatus Committee. 

Following his retirement from Hudson Fire, Lambert had the opportunity to bring his career full circle when he accepted the position as part-time Fire Chief of the Allenstown Fire Department in 2021. 

After his successful time in Allenstown, Chief Lambert felt he still had more to contribute to the fire service, and applied to be the Chief in Rye.

Chief Lambert holds a number of certifications including Advanced EMT, HazMat Technician and Incident Safety Officer. 

Chief Lambert will officially start on April 13, following a swearing-in ceremony held by the Select Board. He credits his wife, Laura, as a driving factor in getting him to where he is today. Laura, who is a member of the Allenstown Firefighters Association, is also looking forward to starting their family’s next chapter in Rye. 

“I am so proud of Eric for continuing his career. This is a big step for him, and I am looking forward to watching him continue to grow and succeed as we take this next step as a family,” said Laura Lambert. 

Chief Lambert is committed to bringing a family-first feel into the town of Rye, honing in on the importance of coming together not as a department but as a community, to support one another each day. 

“I am extremely excited to begin my new role as Chief of the Rye Fire Department,” said Chief Lambert. “Rye offers such a unique experience. Being from a small town myself, Rye allows our department to connect with our community and foster an environment of open communication. I stand committed to serving the great people of Rye, and I am ready to get to work.”

“On behalf of the Rye Select Board, I want to thank Fire Chief Mark Cotreau for his years of service to the Town of Rye and for his many contributions to the community, said Rye Select Board Chair Rob Wright. “In our search for Rye’s next Fire Chief, the Select Board was looking for the right combination of experience, leadership, and commitment to public safety, and we found that in Eric Lambert. He stood out as the right person to lead the department, and we are confident he will serve the town well in this role.” 

“Eric Lambert’s experience, sound judgment, and strong leadership and planning skills make him well-suited to lead the department,” said Town Administrator Matthew Scruton. “I also want to thank Chief Mark Cotreau for his service to the town and for all he has done for Rye over the years. Rye Fire and Rescue is made up of dedicated and talented professionals who serve this community with skill and commitment every day, and I am confident Eric will build on that strong foundation.”

“Following my almost 9-year tenure in Rye, I am proud of all that we have accomplished together with town leadership, members of the department, and the community as a whole. Through this continued partnership, we were able to better equip our department with the tools and apparatus needed to go above and beyond in keeping our residents safe,” said Chief Cotreau. “Being the Fire Chief of Rye has been one of my most rewarding assignments as Chief. Being able to connect with residents and community members and helping to strengthen those relationships is something I take great pride in. The Town of Rye is fortunate to have such a talented group of firefighters, and I have loved working with them and watching their professional development over the years. I would like to thank the Select Board for their support. I am confident that Rye will be in great hands with Chief Lambert and wish him the best of luck in this next chapter of his career.” 

Chief Cotreau’s last day will be April 16. Residents and community members are invited to the station on April 16 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to commemorate Chief Cotreau’s last day. 

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