For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: [email protected]

Six Firefighters Join Stoneham Fire Department

STONEHAM — Chief Matthew Grafton is pleased to announce that six firefighters were appointed to the Stoneham Fire Department yesterday.

During a ceremony on Monday, Feb. 25, Town Clerk Maria Sagarino swore in firefighters Stephen Ternullo, Brian Cronin, Kyle Bowdidge, Nicholas Rolli, Evan Kotowski and Anthony Luciano.

Two of the six appointments fill open positions from when firefighters Bill McNulty and Anthony Riggillo retired last year. The other four positions were made possible through a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The $505,000 FEMA grant will be administered over three years, with Stoneham also contributing approximately $314,000 over that time period.

“We’re extremely grateful to FEMA for this grant and to the Stoneham Select Board and Town Administrator for supporting this endeavor,” Chief Grafton said. “The addition of six firefighters allows us to increase services to residents and better ensure that crews are safe at all times.”

The department now has 43 members. Prior to applying for the FEMA grant, Chief Grafton completed a staffing survey of surrounding communities and found that Stoneham was not staffed adequately compared to similar cities and towns. Additionally, with approximately 1,000 more housing units coming to Stoneham and public sector employees now required to operate under Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines, increasing the fire department’s roster was crucial.

Firefighter Ternullo is a 2011 graduate of Stoneham High School and served in the army as a military police officer from 2011 to 2016.  He currently works as an HVAC technician.

A 2013 graduate of Stoneham High School, firefighter Cronin received his bachelor’s degree in science marketing from Southern New Hampshire University and is a certified EMT. He currently works as a fire equipment technician and previously volunteered for the Stoneham Fire Auxiliary.

Firefighter Bowdidge is a 2009 graduate of Stoneham High School and is currently attending Middlesex Community College while working as a carpenter. He is a member of the Army National Guard, a position he’s held since 2012. Firefighter Bowdidge is in the process of completing his EMT certification.

Firefighter Rolli is a 2014 graduate of Malden Catholic High School and received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Anselm College. While in college, he completed an internship with the Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department and recently completed his EMT certification. Firefighter Rolli previously worked part-time for the Stoneham Department of Public Works.

Following his graduation from Stoneham High School in 2014, firefighter Kotowski attended Bridgewater State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He currently works as a public safety officer for a healthcare provider.

Firefighter Luciano is a 2010 graduate of Arlington Catholic High School and is currently a member of the Stoneham Department of Public Works. He previously worked within the facilities department for Stoneham Public Schools and the Burlington Department of Public Works. Firefighter Luciano recently completed schooling to obtain his Class B driver’s license (CDL).

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