Black retires from Belmont Fire, but not from community role with comfort dog Riggs

BELMONT — Fire Chief Deborah Black was in the emergency services industry for nearly three decades, and now, as she enters retirement with plans to travel, she and her comfort dog Riggs will still be out helping the community.

“It’s just time to do it,” said Black. “I had a chief tell me years ago that I would know when I’m ready. I thought about it last summer, but I needed to button some things up. I decided it was time and here I am.”

Black was inspired to help people by her mother, who was a nurse, but she didn’t want to be in hospitals all the time. Black worked as a first responder in ambulances before becoming a full-time firefighter. Once she received the firefighter certification, the rest was history.

“I love working with people, these firefighters, and being in a team atmosphere,” Black said. “I haven’t regretted a day.”

Black’s career goes back to 1998, when she was a firefighter and paramedic for the Town of Epsom. For the past 20 years, she has served the Lakes Region. After a stint with the Franklin Fire Department performing fire inspections and other tasks, Black moved to Laconia in 2006, before being hired by Belmont Fire.

Black became the assistant chief in 2020, and was promoted to fire chief in August 2023. Prior to the promotion, Black was Belmont's interim chief for several months.

Being a member of the fire department often involves some intense scenes, whether a fire at a home or business, or a life-saving effort in an accident. Firefighters also work directly with the community by promoting fire safety, having coffee at the senior center, and educating students at local schools.

“I do enjoy helping the community I work for and work with,” Black said.

Black is looking forward to relaxation, and sleeping at night. She admits she won’t miss living tied to a pager. While her experience is something she’d never trade, the feeling of ease through retirement has felt great.

“Everything has just been a little lighter, and I can kind of do my thing, and get ready for some trips I want to take,” Black said.

There is a little bit of traveling in Black’s future, as she has a trip planned to go to Savannah, Georgia, over the summer. She also has plans to camp, not only in the Granite State, but across the nation. Ossipee is one spot she knows she’ll go, and will be taking her RV out to visit friends across the country, and find new places to explore and camp.

“There are a couple other retired chiefs that have done that, and they say I’ll love it,” Black said.

Black is also the handler for Riggs, a black Lab comfort dog she's had since he was just 8 weeks old. Riggs came into her life last April. Black said author Claire Hebert-Dow used money she made from sales of her book, “Saving Mama,” to make it happen.

Riggs lives with Black at her home with a couple other dogs, and would go with her to work at the Belmont Fire Station.

Black said Riggs is a friendly pup who can really help people during trauma and crisis scenarios. Even after retirement, Black will get Riggs involved with the Crisis Incident Stress Management team. She said the crisis team responds when there are major events, and Riggs is the perfect dog for the situation. She said similar teams are common in the south, and something Black and others are trying to promote more in the area.

“I will do that on the side, in a sense,” Black said. “It won’t be just with Belmont necessarily, but in the Lakes Region. Riggs will follow me, and work with the crisis intervention team for firefighters and first responders.”

Black’s last day was Jan. 15, and her retirement officially begins Feb. 1. The station is now led by Interim Chief Donald Pickowicz. She knows the department is in good hands, and said she would highly recommend him for the full-time chief role.

“He was a great assistant chief,” Black said. “I worked with him in Laconia before, so I knew him personally. I knew what he could do, and I know he would be a great fit.”