Portsmouth Fire Chief Michael Cranson retiring on June 30

27-year veteran wants to explore other opportunities

By Jim McGaw
Posted 5/16/18

PORTSMOUTH — Fire Chief Michael Cranson, who’s been with the department since he was a 19-year-old living at home, has announced his retirement effective June 30.

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Portsmouth Fire Chief Michael Cranson retiring on June 30

27-year veteran wants to explore other opportunities

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Fire Chief Michael Cranson, who’s been with the department since he was a 19-year-old living at home, has announced his retirement effective June 30.

On Tuesday, the 46-year-old said it’s simply time for him to explore other opportunities. 

“I love this place,” Chief Cranson said. “I feel kind of sad about leaving, but I just think it’s time to open a new chapter in my life. I plan on continuing to work full-time in some kind of municipal or state government. I’d love to work in public service in some capacity. I feel like I have more to give.” 

Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. announced Chief Cranson’s decision during Monday’s Town Council meeting.

“I’m obviously discouraged, but I also support him and understand why he’s doing it. He’s been with the town for 27 years and I think he’s looking for other challenges,” Mr. Rainer said after the meeting. 

The chief is a well-liked figure throughout town, the manager said. “He’s popular and he’s been a friend and a mentor. A number of times, he’s been the interim town administrator while I’m taking a day off. I’m going to miss him very much. I’ve come to respect his leadership style,” he said.

While Mr. Rainer said he knew Chief Cranson was thinking about retiring — “I didn’t see it coming this quickly, however,” he said — the news took Town Council President Keith Hamilton by surprise. 

“I was shocked to find out this morning,” Mr. Hamilton said Monday night. “I’m disappointed that he’s leaving us. He’s done a very nice job of leading the Fire Department. I wish him well. It’s a real loss.”

Trial by hurricane

Chief Cranson first came to the department as a fresh-faced teenager in 1991. “I just stumbled into the job,” he said. “I took the test with all my buddies and I got called. I had never even been in a fire station before that.”

It didn’t take long for the job to test him.

“Five days after I started, we had Hurricane Bob (August 1991). There were trees down and car accidents and fires. I was like, ‘This is the greatest job in the world,’” said Chief Cranson, who wasn’t even allowed out of the house during Hurricane Gloria six years earlier.

In the middle of fighting a big fire on Narragansett Road in Common Fence Point, the eye of the storm passed over, forcing firefighters to abandon their hoses and to temporarily flee the area. 

“The chief at the time was Peter Wilkey and he had a GMC Jimmy with the tailgate down and we were all piled in there trying to get out of Common Fence Point, because the water came up so fast. It was just awesome to be part of it. It was very much a crash course,” he said.

He was also impressed by the level of professional surrounding him, and knew he had found a home.

“To be somewhat of an adult and have this job during a hurricane only five days in was pretty cool,” he said. “I remember being in awe of the people around me who were super-calm and confident. They had a plan already on paper, ready to execute. I remember thinking, ‘This is a squared-away place and I’m happy to be here.’”

‘Good things’

Firefighters see their share of awful things on duty, ‘but there have also been good things,” said the chief, a 21-year Portsmouth resident who has four children and three stepchildren.

One of the most memorable came in 2002 or 2003, when the then-lieutenant, along with Michael O’Brien — he retired as deputy chief last year — and another firefighter delivered a baby at a resident’s home.

“Three o’clock in the morning, the husband calls us and says he thinks his wife’s in labor,” the chief said. “We show up and the husband is frantic at the front door. The wife’s in the basement of a raised ranch, on the floor. She’s saying, ‘Can you help me?’ and the baby’s head is coming out. My first thought was, ‘I was asleep 20 minutes ago.’

“We said, ‘Of course we’ll help you. We know what we’re doing.’ We were lying through our teeth, but we were able to deliver a healthy baby and mom was in good shape.”

What he’ll miss

When asked what he’ll miss most about the department, Chief Cranson said “the people.”

“I’ve never seen or even heard of any fire department around that has as much community support or level of expertise from the firefighters and civilian dispatchers that this place has. My job, quite honestly, is easy because of how good my people are,” he said.

He added, “It’s the only job in which you can go to somebody’s house, where somebody’s loved one is near death, and that family calls you and thanks you for showing up. It’s the worst day of someone’s life and they’re thanking you. 

“It’s almost incomprehensible, but that’s the level of support we enjoy in Portsmouth and I’m going to miss that.”

Portsmouth Fire Department, Michael Cranson, Mike Cranson

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