Massachusetts Fire Chief 2009

A MESSAGE FROM THE PA ST PRESIDENT FCAM and his ofﬁce, and be included as part of the Marshal’s annual Fireﬁghter of the Year recognition program. When the call went out for ﬁre chiefs to identify ﬁ re department personnel who have served, nearly 300 names were submitted, creating the ﬁ rst entries on the Scroll of Honor. During this discussion, FCAM and Marshal Coan endorsed creation of the Patriot Award, a special recognition to be awarded to a member of the ﬁre service who while serving as a member of the armed forces engaged in heroic action at great personal risk. On November 7, Gov. Deval Patrick honored three ﬁre ﬁghters and the wife of a fourth, who was deployed again, with the Patriot Award for their selﬂess bravery under ﬁre. This Award and the Military Service Bar are now part of the annual Fireﬁghter of the Year Award program. FCAM member, Chief Paul Zibkowski of the Ashland Fire Department, had been in contact with his Town Administrator Kevin E. Paicos. Mr. Paicos served as a medic in the National Guard Special Forces for almost a year on a ﬁrebase in south central Afghanistan, treating about 600 people a week. After Paicos treated a 12-year-old boy transported for treatment in the back of an old truck, he asked Chief Zbikwoski if there was any way to get an ambulance shipped to Afghanistan. The call went out to FCAM members, and Chief Gary Daugherty of the Hopkinton Fire Department, who serves as Director for District 14 and whose son served in Afghanistan with the U.S. Air Force, knew District 14 had acquired a new ambulance and was looking to sell or donate a 1983 ambulance. At Chief Daugherty’s suggestion, the District donated the ambulance to the Ashburnham ﬁreﬁghters, who made the arrangements for the ambulance, loaded with medical supplies and spare vehicle parts, to be shipped to Afghanistan in late 2008. The bond between ﬁre chiefs was mentioned in the opening paragraphs of this article, and on June 27, 2007, I realized just how strong those bonds are. On that day my nephew, SSgt. Daniel Newsome lost his life due to wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Baghdad. When Danny arrived home at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, there was a delegation of Fire Chiefs and the State Fire Marshal in Class A’s there to honor him. On June 28th, when I sought the support of FCAM to request Gov. Patrick reverse the policy of previous administrations, a policy that prohibited the lowering of ﬂ ags at state buildings to honor those who have died in battle, our voice was heard loud and clear. After consulting with his Advisory Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, the Governor directed all ﬂags at state buildings be ﬂown at half staff on July 5th, to honor Danny, and on the day of the funeral for any resident who gave their life in battle. On July 5th, over 50 chiefs attended Danny’s services and assisted the family in marshaling more than 700 people during the viewing and funeral service. The Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts is continuing our practice of honoring our wounded and fallen warriors. On April 2, 2009, we expect over 50 ﬁre chiefs from Massachusetts will take a break from the Congressional Fire Services Institute Seminar and travel to Arlington National Cemetery. A delegation of four chiefs, two of them Viet Nam vets, one the chief who suggested we make this presentation, and one the father of a son who has been deployed three times as well as the uncle of a nephew who gave his life on the streets of Baghdad, will place a memorial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. ❚ 12 | M ASSACHUS E TTS FI RE C H I E F 2009 http://www.airstar-light.com/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Massachusetts Fire Chief 2009

Massachusetts Fire Chief 2009 Contents A Message from the FCAM President Code of Ethics/Vision Statement Bonds of Service Legislative Report The Fire Chief for 2009 and Beyond Leading a Combination Fire Department Remember When Fighting for Code Change Leadership Matters Fire Risk Management - Fire Chiefs - Codes The Current Economy and its Effect on Fire Departments Statewide Fire Mobilization Plan Beware of the Truss Index of Advertisers

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.