georgetown fire department

Georgetown Fire Department Hires First Full-Time Firefighters

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Georgetown-MA-Alarm-Installation

Georgetown Fire Department
Fred A. Mitchell Jr., Fire Chief
47 Central Street
Georgetown, MA 01833

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 1, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Georgetown Fire Department Hires First Full-Time Firefighters

GEORGETOWN — Chief Fred Mitchell is pleased to share that the Georgetown Fire Department has hired its first crew of full-time firefighters.

Firefighters James Driscoll, of Salisbury, Bret Moyer, of Georgetown, and Brian Belfiore, of Haverhill, began their new roles today, Monday, July 1. 

Firefighter Moyer’s father and grandfather both served on the Georgetown Fire Department.

“This is second nature for me,” Firefighter Moyer said. “I was born and raised in Georgetown. I enjoy helping the community where I live and work.”

Firefighter Moyer has worked part-time at the Georgetown Fire Department since 2005, and Firefighter Belfiore has worked part-time for the department for approximately three years. 

Firefighter Belfiore is also a call firefighter for the Groveland Fire Department, and Firefighter Driscoll is a call firefighter for the Newbury Fire Department and has previously volunteered for the South Hampton, New Hampshire Fire Department. 

“I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter,” Firefighter Driscoll said. “I’m a first generation firefighter, the first in my family. Growing up I loved looking at the trucks and visiting the stations.”

The Georgetown Fire Department also hired Firefighter Jennifer Hicks, of Groveland, who will begin her new post on Sept. 2. Firefighter Hicks started as a call firefighter in Groveland approximately four years ago and began working for the Georgetown Fire Department part-time about two years ago. 

All four full-time firefighters have completed the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Firefighter I and II training, and are certified EMTs. 

The Georgetown Fire Department was given funding by the town to hire the full-time firefighters after Municipal Resources Inc. Consulting Group conducted a study that analyzed the department’s staffing needs. In fall 2018, the consulting firm recommended that the town eventually hire six full-time firefighters to meet its staffing needs. 

“Georgetown is growing, and with a larger population and increased development in town, the Fire Department needs to evolve and grow to meet the community’s needs,” Chief Mitchell said. “We’ve also seen that it’s become increasingly challenging to staff our day shifts with part-time firefighters. It’s a huge commitment, and we need full-time staff to provide a consistent, full response.”

The four firefighters will work the Monday through Friday day-shift, two firefighters from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and two firefighters from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chief Mitchell hopes to hire two more full-time firefighters for the 2021 fiscal year. The department will continue to be staffed by full-time, part-time and call firefighters.

“This is an exciting time for our department and the town,” Chief Mitchell said. “We’ll be able to provide a more consistent response by having a group of full-time firefighters available during the day to assist our part-time and call firefighters. This is a great model that works well for the needs of the town.”

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Georgetown Fire Department Offers Electrical Safety Tips

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Georgetown-MA-Alarm-Installation

Georgetown Fire Department
Fred A. Mitchell Jr., Fire Chief
47 Central Street
Georgetown, MA 01833

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Georgetown Fire Department Offers Electrical Safety Tips

GEORGETOWN — Chief Fred Mitchell and the Georgetown Fire Department wish to remind residents of important electrical safety tips this May. 

Each May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International launches National Electrical Safety Month, a campaign to raise awareness about electrical safety.

According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, electrical fires are the second leading cause behind fatal residential fires in Massachusetts. 

“It’s far too easy to overlook the warning signs leading up to an electrical fire and we encourage residents to take the time to examine their devices and outlets,” Chief Mitchell said. “Keep an eye on your machines and appliances, and make sure they aren’t being misused or overused.”

The National Fire Protection Association offers the following Electrical Fire Safety Tips:

  • Make sure all electrical work is done by a qualified electrician.
  • When buying a new home or remodeling, have it inspected by someone qualified to do so.
  • Don’t plug more than one heat-producing appliance into an outlet, like a space heater or toaster.
  • Do not plug a major appliance, like a refrigerator, dryer, washer, stove or air conditioner, into an extension cord. These machines need to be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet.
  • Consider having an advanced circuit breaker installed, which will shut off electricity when they detect a problem.
  • Do not run electrical cords across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended to be used temporarily.
  • Make sure you’re using a light bulb with the correct number of watts.
  • The National Fire Protection Association also encourages people to call a qualified electrician if fuses blow frequently in the home, circuit breakers frequently trip, you have a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance, wall outlets are warm or discolored, a burning or rubbery smell is coming from an appliance, flickering or dimming lights, or sparks coming from an outlet.

The National Fire Protection Association also has several tips for outdoor electrical safety:

  • Use lighting and power tools that are meant to be used outdoors and have been listed by a qualified test laboratory.
  • Store electrical tools inside and keep them away from children.
  • Make sure the area around your electric meter and other electrical equipment is clear.
  • Before turning on a light or using an extension cord, check it for damage. Replace damaged cords.
  • Only use extension cords that are meant to be used outdoors and are listed by a qualified test laboratory.

Residents that have an electrical safety question or a concern can reach the Georgetown Fire Department at 978-352-5757.

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Georgetown Fire Department Urges Residents to Check Fire and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving Time

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Georgetown-MA-Alarm-Installation

Georgetown Fire Department
Fred A. Mitchell Jr., Fire Chief
47 Central Street
Georgetown, MA 01833

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Georgetown Fire Department Urges Residents to Check Fire and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving Time

GEORGETOWN – As community members prepare to turn their clocks back this weekend, Chief Fred Mitchell and the Georgetown Fire Department are reminding residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 a.m.

“Daylight saving serves as a great reminder for residents to not only change their clocks, but to change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms,” Chief Mitchell said. “These devices ensure that during an emergency you will be alerted to a fire or an increase of carbon monoxide in your home, so it is vital that they are working correctly at all times.”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 46 percent of smoke alarms that failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries and roughly three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms.

The Georgetown Fire Department asks that all business owners not only change the batteries in their clocks, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, but also replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to keep your home safe and prevent fires, Chief Mitchell recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by NFPA:

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace alarms immediately if they don’t respond properly when tested.
  • Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when you change your clocks.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
  • If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay in that spot until emergency personnel arrive.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, visit the NFPA website or contact the Georgetown Fire Department at 978-352-5757.

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Georgetown, Groveland and Newbury Fire Departments Awarded Regional FEMA Grant to Purchase New Safety Equipment

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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Georgetown, Groveland and Newbury Fire Departments Awarded Regional FEMA Grant to Purchase New Safety Equipment

GEORGETOWN — Georgetown Chief Fred A. Mitchell Jr., Groveland Interim Fire Chief Richard York and Newbury Fire Chief Douglas Janvrin are pleased to announce that a regional Assistance to Firefighters Grant will allow all three departments to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), SCBA masks, air tank cylinders and Pak-Trackers.

The $629,254 regional grant will provide each department with lifesaving devices to replace their aging equipment.

“Obtaining this grant is part of a regional effort between our departments to work closer to increase safety for all three communities,” Chief Mitchell said. “This award enables us to better protect firefighters responding to an incident and the residents we serve every day.”

FEMA awarded a total of 101 SCBAs, 101 SCBA masks and 202 air pack cylinders to the three departments to replace their current equipment. All ladder and engine trucks will now have SCBAs and cylinders for every person on board.

Georgetown Fire Department: 30 SCBAs, 30 SCBA masks and 60 cylinders

Groveland Fire Department: 32 SCBAs, 32 SCBA masks and 62 cylinders

Newbury Fire Department: 39 SCBAs, 39 SCBA masks and 69 cylinders

Georgetown, Groveland and Newbury will also receive one Pak-Tracker each, which syncs to SCBAs’ GPS systems to pinpoint firefighters’ exact locations while inside a building.

“These Pak-Trackers will allow us to quickly locate and respond in the event that a firefighter becomes injured or trapped,” Chief Janvrin said. “We are now better prepared to respond to an emergency situation and save lives.”

In order to receive the grant, Georgetown, Groveland and Newbury committed to paying 10 percent of the total cost of the equipment. The three communities will split the $62,925 cost, with each allocating approximately $20,000.

Recognizing the need for new equipment, the three departments, under the leadership of Chief Mitchell, Chief Janvrin and retired Groveland Chief Robert Lay, worked cooperatively to complete the FEMA grant application. Georgetown Firefighter Taylor Balletto wrote the grant with assistance from Newbury Capt. Rob Serino, which was then submitted in February. The fire departments received notification of the grant award in July.

“We are extremely pleased to have been awarded the Assistance to Firefighters Grant to improve our access to lifesaving equipment,” Chief York said. “We hope to continue this regional partnership for future endeavors and projects that will directly benefit our residents.”

Administered through FEMA, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant works to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, grant allocations have helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

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