Norwood (MA) Ladder Company 1 operated at a three-alarm fire in a laundromat on Central Street.
See story on page 5
Founded 1973
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Pawtucket (RI) firefighters worked a two-alarm fire on Ballston Avenue on a very hot and humid August 10, 2022.
See story on page 6
The South Windsor (CT) Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a building fire on Amato Drive.
See story on page 8
Merrimack (NH) Fire received a call from a homeowner on Forest Drive that a house was engulfed in fire.
See story on page 12
Aremembrance service was held for Kevin Bell of Engine 16 who was killed in the line of duty on Ocotber 7, 2014, in Hartford (CT).
See story on page 21
Photo coverage of the Baker-Polito Administration (MA) 33rd annual Firefighter of the Year awards.
See story on page 27
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The year 2022 brought reality to many firefighters with the Line of Duty Deaths of many of our colleagues. Cancer took many of our heroes from their families and co-workers in 2022. To all responders, there are measures that we can take to keep ourselves and our families safe from cancer. You have heard me talk about the things we can do to protect ourselves from this insidious disease. In 2023, please take the advice from the people who are working hard to convince all responders that wearing clean protective gear and SCBAis a good start to keeping yourself safe. The IAFF states that firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. At the 2022 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, almost 75 percent of the names added to the wall (348 out of 469) were members who had died from occupational cancer. Visit IAFF.org to learn about cancer among firefighters. January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness month. Take some time in 2023 to learn what you can do to be “safer” from this disease. Thank you to the IAFF for making firefighters aware of cancer and what you can do to stay safe and lessen your chances of getting cancer.
For over 30 years, I was an Industrial Arts/Technology teacher. I taught middle school
kids to use tools and machinery which, today, is considered dangerous. Sadly, many of the projects we did are no longer performed in schools. Industry and the fire service is now feeling the effects of not training kids to safely use machinery. The fire service is also noticing that many probationary firefighters are uncomfortable with using cutting tools. Thank you to our chiefs, officers and training committees for teaching our members how to use machinery and tools safely.
I also would like to thank our chiefs, company officers and senior members for setting up an intense program that teaches all members, new and old, to work safely as they battle the flames that greet them at a working fire. It is evident that all departments are doing a great job teaching our firefighters to operate safely. Many of my neighboring departments battled fatal fires in 2022. It was a tough year for many of you. Thank you to the chiefs that set up counseling sessions with the firefighters who experienced death on the fire ground. Thank you to the responders that took the opportunity to be part of these classes. Your professionalism came through by your presence at these sessions.
In 2023, give thought to what you can do to be a better firefighter. Your community needs
you, 24/7! Stay active, train and share your knowledge and experiences with your new members.
As a firefighter dealing with cancer, I appreciated the comradeship that I received in 2022. I am hoping that in 2023 I will be able to get back to what I love to do; that is to assist in training firefighters. In the meantime, have a safe and wonderful News Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Stay strong in 2023! - Dennis
Acivilian burning cardboard in Shelton (CT) on October12, 2022, let his fire get out of control, and it spread quickly, catching nearby piles of cardboard and tires on fire. This pile was exposed to a connex box, which it was up against. The box became fully involved and exposed to two autos behind it. Two handlines and a multiversal were used to knock down the fire. Companies had extensive overhaul. The town fire marshal was investigating.
- Fire News photo by Glenn Duda, Allhandsworking
The Deerfield (NH) Fire Department, along with several mutual aid units, were dispatched to a report of a fully involved barn fire
Meeting House Hill Road. Responders arrived to a garage attached to a house fully engulfed and immediately called fora second alarm. The structure quickly collapsed and firefighters worked in windy conditions to keep the fire from furtherdamaging the house (built in 1764), and spreading to nearby brush. The garage was a total loss and, despite the intense fire and wind, the house primarily suffered exteriordamage with some smoke entering the house. Several towns responded including Auburn, Allenstown, Candia, Chester, Chichester, Durham, Epping, Lee,
Hudson (NH) firefighters responded to a house fire on the morning of November14, 2022. Companies arrived to find heavy fire showing from an attached garage. Command struck a second alarm bringing mutual aid to the scene and to cover. Companies stretched multiple handlines and Ladder2 opened the roof.
- Fire News photo by Patrick KerriganPawtucket (RI) firefighters worked a two-alarm fire on Ballston Avenue on a very hot and humid August 10, 2022. Companies arrived to find heavy smoke showing from a 21/2 story wood frame dwelling with many occupants in need of rescue. Rescues were made overladders and fire escapes while engine companies stretc hed in to aggressively attack the fire. Unfortunately, one elderly female succumbed aftertransport to the hospital.
- Fire News photo by Ken LaBelle
Pembroke (MA) Fire responded to Lantern Street fora fire recently. Companies arrived to a large garage and a large area of brush on fire and struck a second alarm.
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October29, 2022, Fall River(MA) 911 communications began receiving calls reporting a fire on ManchesterStreet. Engines 2, 4 and 9, along with Ladders 2 and 4, Rescue 1, and Car3 responded. Car3 was notified of the additional calls and called fora second alarm immediately. Fall Riverpolice reported heavy smoke showing. Car3 arrived to find an immediate exposure problem, with one attached exposure, and the next one fourfeet away. Chief Bacon ordered that all waterbe directed on the exposures and called for a third alarm. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the building of origin, an auto repairgarage.
- Fire News photo by Ken LegerOn November25, 2022, Holbrook (MA) firefighters responded fora fire on Thornton Road in Holbrook. Crews arrived to fire showing in an occupied single-story house. Mutual aid came from Randolph and Avon; Braintree covered Holbrook’s station.
Glastonbury (CT) crews fought a brush fire on Heritage Drive on November7, 2022, at 1632.
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On October29, 2022, the Attawaugan Fire Department (Killingly, CT), along with mutual aid companies, were dispatched to Thompson Pike fora structure fire. On arrival, companies found heavy fire showing from the roof of a dwelling. Companies made an initial interiorattack to allow forthe search of possible victims. During this attack, command was able to verify via phone that no residents were present at the time. With this information, command pulled all companies out of the building and moved to defensive operations. The fire was held to a first alarm with multiple additional tankerunits.
Duxbury (MA) Fire quickly struck a second alarm at a house fire, which brought in mutual aid from several communities. Despite heavy fire conditions, fire was kept from spreading to the main living quarters of the house.
- Fire News photo by Dan ‘Magik’Majercik
On October21, 2022, thick black smoke could be seen formiles from a junkyard located on Van Deusenville Road in the village of Housatonic. Great Barrington (CT) firefighters responded with fourengines and a tankertask force was requested forwater supply. Twenty vehicles and a variety of scrap tanks were burning. Crews quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire. DEPwas requested to monitorenvironmental impact.
Members of Sharon (MA) Ladder1 opened the roof during a three-alarm fire in Stoughton on August 7, 2022.
On October16, 2022, Andover(MA) responded fora second-alarm fire, which tore through multiple restaurants located downtown on Essex Street. The fire started in the Sauce Restaurant and extended into two others that share the same single-story building. Firefighters were forced into a defensive operation afterthe ce iling collapsed with fire breaking through the roof.
-On September16, 2022, Worcester (MA) crews responded fora threealarmeron Rodney Street in the city’s Belmont Hill section. Companies had heavy fire in a three-deckeron arrival, and made an aggressive attack on the fire and quickly knocked it down.
- Fire News photo by Paul Shea
On September29, 2022, Stamford (CT) companies arrived to find heavy fire conditions in the back of the house on Fairfield Avenue, the scene of a previous fire. Alarge dumpsterwas outside the house and ignited. The fire spread from the dumpsterto the structure, climbing outside the back of the house and into the attic area. Atowerladderwas put into operation and knocked down the heavy fire, then crews gained access to extinguish the blaze. Asecond building also had its vinyl siding melted off. As this fire was going on, anotherdumpsterfire was reported a block away against a school building. An additional alarm was sounded forthat fire.
- Fire News photo by PuckStopperPhotography.comASmithfield (RI) EMS Rescue was returning from the hospital when they noticed smoke in the sky off Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. They arrived to find two sheds burning in the backyard of a Brown Avenue address and quickly deployed a garden hose onto the fire. North Providence companies arrived to knock the rest of the fire down and overhauled two exposure dwelling that sustained radiant heat damage.
- Fire News photo by Ken LaBelle
Just after2030 on October5, 2022, Derby (CT) EMS arrived at Caroline Street foran EMS call. However, they pulled up to a working structure fire. Crews from Derby, Shelton, Ansonia, Orange and Seymourresponded to the blaze. Crews had heavy fire on the second floorbut were able to make a good knockdown of the bulk of the fire.
Merrimack (NH) Fire received a call from a homeowneron Forest Drive that a house was engulfed in fire. On arrival, firefighters could see heavy smoke and fire. The garage and two vehicles outside were also on fire. Asecond alarm was requested bringing mutual aid from several towns and cities, and forstation coverage. Crews were challenged with watersupply issues and hoselines that had to be stretched a significant distance. Crews stretched lines to the interiorof the house, and othercrews worked to knock down the fire outside. Nashua (NH) Fire extended a laddertruck to the roof and cut ventilation holes. Several loud popping noises were heard while the cars burned, and live powerlines fell to the ground. The fire extended to the house, and caused heavy smoke and waterdamage.
- Fire News photo by Jeffrey Hastings
Pepperell (MA) firefighters operated at an RVfire with no extension to the house.
- Fire News photo by Shaun Shattuck
On November23, 2022, Gardner(MA) Fire made a quick knock down of a fire in a 1-1/2 story home on Coleman Street.
In the early morning of October13, 2022, a small sedan smashed into the Honey Dew Donuts located on Gold StarBoulevard in Worcester(MA). It was believed that rainy conditions and speed played majorfactors in the accident. The impact of the crash split the automobile in half. The rearend of the carwas found outside the building and the front end of the carcame to rest inside the store. Abuilding inspectorwas called to the scene to check the structural stability of the shop. Miraculously, the driverwas able to get out of the carunderhis own powerand walk to the ambulance.
- Fire News photos by Paul Shea
On October16, 2022, crews from Pascoag (Burrillville, RI) Fire Department and the East Thompson (CT) VolunteerFire Department were separately dispatched foran ATVaccident with serious injuries on the Rhode Island-Connecticut border. Crews from both departments entered the woods and located the victim in Rhode Island. Crews jointly extricated the victim from the woods, via a UTV, to the trailhead in Thompson. The victim was furthertransported by a Pascoag Fire Department ambulance to the established LZ at the Thompson Speedway where a UMASS Memorial LifeFlight helicopterwas waiting.
- Fire News photo by Dan ‘Magik’Majercik
At 0100 on October4, 2022, Haddam (CT) VolunteerFire Company was dispatched to the Route 9 North exit 9 off-ramp fora rollover. Adriverhad veered off to the left side of the road, struck two road signs, flipped, and stopped in heavy brush. The driverwas able to self-extricate and was evaluated on scene by EMT-certified firefighters.
- Fire News photo by Olivia Drake
At approximately 1210 on November13, 2022, the Shelton (CT) Fire Department was dispatched to Bridgeport Avenue in front of BurgerKing fora two-vehicle MVAwith rollover. All occupants self-rescued before fire department’s arrival and injuries were unknown.
- Fire News photo by
FireGroundImages.com
Around 1330 hours on the afternoon of October8, 2022, the Freedom (NH) Fire Department responded to a report of a golf cart accident on Old Shawtown Road at the Danforth Bay Camping and RVResort. Companies arrived to find a single golf cart with multiple injuries to its paassengers. Ambulances from CenterOssipee Fire, Conway Fire and two ambulances from Action EMS responded. Fourpeople were transported to Memorial Hospital in North Conway fortreatment of their injuries.
- Fire News photo by Pat Travers
Recent New England FOOLS training weekend.
- Fire News photos by Lisa Burton
Norfolk (CT) held a multifaceted drill on October16, 2022, at the Royal Arcanum building, a massive centerpiece built in the early 1900s. At one time the building was the Norfolk Fire Department headquarters. The drill was intended to test many systems simultaneously including communications, watersupply, particularly the new watermains, and inter-agency coordination. Four“victims” were rescued, waterflow was over4000 gpm, and a total of 150,000 gallons was moved.
- Fire News photo by Ed Harvey
On November12, 2022, Hartford (CT) County Fire School held theirFF1 live burn forthe fall class. The class took part in five different stations throughout the day; ladders, search and rescue, RIT, basement fire attack and 2nd floorfire attack. Firefighters worked togetherat each station. Firefighters wrapped up the fall class a few weeks laterin preparation fortheirState Final written test.
In early November, members of the WindsorLocks (CT) Fire Department participated in theirannual live burn drill at the Connecticut Fire Academy.
- Fire News photo by Coral Ruggiero
On October15, 2022, a live burn was conducted by the Sutton (MA) Fire Department. Firefighters from area towns were also invited to attend. This was a dwelling scheduled to be torn down. Afew evolutions were conducted before the house was let go.
- Fire News photo by Paul Shea
- Photo courtesy of Dracut FD
Aremembrance service was recently held forKevin Bell of Engine 16 who was killed in the line of duty at a house fire on Ocotber7, 2014, in Hartford (CT). The fire was just a few doors down from the firehouse.
Members of the Orange (CT) Volunteer Fire Department took part in a special ceremony November19, 2022, during which the Chamberof Commerce dedicated a brick walkway in front of a bandstand on the town’s fairgrounds. Firefighters were recognized fortheir contribution to the town’s safety. They also displayed some of theirapparatus, including theirnewest fire engine, designed to reduce the fire department’s carbon footprint.
- Fire News photos by Doug Fenichel
- Fire News photos by Patrick Dooley
In November, the WindsorLocks (CT) Fire Department honored Chief Gary Ruggiero forhis 50 years of service to the department. Chief Ruggiero began as a cadet in 1968 and, at the age of 21, became a regularmember. In 2004, Gary was named Chief of the WindsorLocks Fire Department. Congratulations Chief!
On November16, 2022, around 0600, Montville (CT) and all
departments were dispatched to a
fire
On arrival of M-1 the top of the metal scrap pile was heavily involved and extending rapidly. Arequest fora tankertask force was requested along with an extra ladderand engines. Along-distance watersupply was established, as the fire spread to a 100- x 100-foot area, and was deep seated in the pile. Command requested extra alarms fortankers which brought in a total of 14 apparatus. Watersupply was delivered by a 1500-plus-foot lay from a hydrant, two draft lines from the riverabout 500-feet away, and two fill sites approximately 1-1/2 miles away. Access to the fire was limited by elevated earthworks and a riverto the rearof the pile. This was the second majorfire in two years. Crews worked the incident forabout 14 hours.
Forcible entry is a frequently practiced basic skill. The pop of a doorcreated by the irons can be quite satisfying. In reality less is more when it comes to gaining access on activated alarms orwell-being checks. Knowledge of locks, how they work can be an asset when using more passive entry methods. One resource available to New England firefighters is the Lock Museum of America located in Terryville (CT). The museum’s collection of locks span US history. The lock displays demonstrate the innerworkings of locks. The more you know about your“enemy,” the lock, the betterprepared you’ll be. The museum is seasonal and will be re-opening in April 2023. The museum’s website has the most up-to-date details: www.lockmuseumofamerica.org. - Fire
Orange (CT) volunteer firefighters recently dedicated a new fire engine that improves their ability to protect town lives and property while also protecting the environment.
The 2022 Spartan is equipped with a 1500-gpm pump and 1000 gallons of water, as well as several compartments full of tools. It’s those tools
The
Agas
The 20th Annual Connecticut State Firefighters Memorial Service was held at the Connecticut Fire Academy on September25, 2022. This year fourConnecticut firefighters were honored fortheirsacrifices: George W. Brown of the Muddy Brook Fire of Woodstock; Samuel E. Cotter of Ansonia Fire of Ansonia; William T. Halstead, Sr., of the Sandy Hook VolunteerFire and Rescue of Newtown; and Colin J. McFadden of the Burlington VolunteerFire Department of Burlington.
Recently, in Springfield (MA), at the Raymond J. Sullivan Safety Complex, eight new firefighters accepted the oath to protect the City of Springfield. CommissionerCaliv swore in the firefighters and was supported by Deputy Hess, PIO Captain Piemonte, the
Mayorof the City, Domenic Sarno, the honorable Bishop Baymon, family members and fellow brothers on the job. Congratulations to you eight. Here’s wishing you safe and healthy careers.
- Fire News photos by John DeForest
At its general membership meeting on October 18, 2022, Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts (FCAM) made a $2,000 donation to Shriners Children’s Boston. The award, presented by President Vuona, was accepted by Shriners Children’s Boston Senior Development Officer of Donor Development Amy Karewa.
In accepting the award, Karewa told the story of Shriners National Patient Ambassador Katherine Marchesseault who, in 2019 as a high school student in North Andover, was severely burned and injured in a car crash. After more than a half dozen surgeries and a month at Shriners, Marchesseault returned to play high school soccer for her team in North Andover, and is now a starter playing Division 1 soccer for Northeastern University.
Marchesseault, in her role as a National Patient Ambassador, now travels the country advocating for the work Shriners does. A focus for Shriners Children’s Boston is the treatment of patients with severe burns and burn-related injuries, and FCAM honored their work with the donation at this week’s meeting.
“We were thrilled to be able to make this donation to help further the work Shriners does for burn patients in the community, and we thank them for all they do every day,” President Vuona said.
- Submitted by Matthew Reid
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier, acting director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), announced the graduation of 28 firefighters from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program.
“First responders are on the frontlines protecting their communities, and these newest firefighters are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. “The rigorous professional training they’ve received provides them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
The recruits of Class S 29 trained at the MFA’s Springfield campus and represent the 10 departments of Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Holden, Holyoke, Marlborough, North Adams, Northampton, Palmer, Southbridge and Springfield.
The MFA, which marked its 50th anniversary last year, provides recruit and in-service training at three separate campuses in Stow, Springfield, and Bridgewater. To date, over 14,000 firefighters have graduated in more than 450 classes.
- Submitted by Jake Wark
Call/VolunteerRecruit FirefighterTraining Class 100
The 22 graduates represent the 14 fire departments of Carlisle, Charlton, Dunstable, Grafton, Lincoln, Marion, Millville, Oxford, Paxton, Plympton, Sherborn, Stow, Townsend, and Tyngsborough.
- Submitted by Jake Wark
FormerHopkinton (MA) Fire Department Firefighter Douglas Gourley from Company 3 out of Hopkinton Village Station. (1981 to 1987) remembers Unit 60-K3 forwhich he was the primary pump operator/driver. It is an International and carried 1,500 gallons of water, and a 750-gpm pump. Dick Wright formerMutual Aid Compact Coordinatorsaid “This truck is a very valuable piece because it is so versatile. It can pump off its tank straight forward, orto the right orleft using an extended Horn to pump off its whole tank in about two minutes.” Wright loved to have us pull up to a Porta Tank because we could do anything he asked. We also carried a full compliment of interiorattack tools, SCBA, pike poles and much more. We could dress hydrants and pump to other engines and tankeralso. The Bow (NH) Fire Department had the identical truck also.
- Submitted by Douglas Gourley
Congratulations to Duxbury FirefighterMatthew Demers who recently graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
- Fire News photo by Rob Reardon
