BANGOR – Bangor has found a successor for longtime fire chief Tom Higgins who retired in August.

The Bangor City Council confirmed Geoffrey Low as the new chief on Dec. 23. Low currently serves as deputy chief of the Ellsworth Fire Department and said Monday that he is excited to start in Bangor, despite having big shoes to fill.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity there,” he said. “There’s certainly a lot of good people, and there’s a legacy in the Bangor Fire Department that I think is going to be kind of hard to live up to.”

City officials said in a statement that they chose low after a comprehensive search process.

“Throughout the interview process, Geoff was able to clearly and consistently articulate how his experience and qualifications in fire service, leadership development, and his commitment to training would benefit the department, city and our residents,” City Manager Debbie Laurie said.

According to city records, Low will have a salary of $124,405.

Low said he knows there are a number of challenges facing the department, such as recruitment, issues with street numbering and sprinkler systems citywide, but said he needs to get more acclimated with the department before taking on those challenges.

“Before I take any action or make recommendations to the city, I’ll need to consult with my team and other stakeholders to make sure I truly understand the challenges that exist,” he said.

A native of South Portland and Paris, Low has worked in fire service for the past 30 years. He served as deputy fire chief and as chief of the Auburn Fire Department and served as fire chief in Orono from 2018 to 2020 before coming to Ellsworth.