South Portland has a new fire chief.

Jim Wilson, a deputy chief with the department, will replace Kevin Guimond, who resigned last November.

Wilson first joined the department in 1996 as a firefighter and emergency medical technician.

He was one of five candidates for the chief’s post and was first vetted by the Civil Service Commission and then interviewed by a panel that consisted of Assistant City Manager Josh Reny, former City Councilor Melissa Linscott, Portland Fire Chief David Jackson, Capt. Michael Baroody of the U.S. Coast Guard, and Police Chief Ed Googins.

Wilson started his career as a Cape Elizabeth volunteer firefighter and is now a Level 1 firefighter, a Level 2 certified chief officer, a certified forest firefighter and an open-water diver. He also has a Merchant Marine master’s license from the U.S. Coast Guard and is a certified fire service instructor.

– Alex Acquisto, Sun Media Wire