gloucester fire

Gloucester Fire Department Extinguishes Two-Alarm Fire

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Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

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

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that Gloucester firefighters responded to a two alarm fire today.

At 7:55 a.m., the Gloucester Fire Department was dispatched to 106 R Washington St. for a report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters observed flames emerging from the home and immediately struck a second alarm due to the strong possibility that the fire could extend quickly to the rest of the building.

Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the flames and there were no injuries to any of the occupants. A cat was located alive inside the building and was returned to its owners.

“All of the crews on scene did a great job to quickly contain the fire and limit the damage to the area where it originated,” Chief Smith said.

Crews from the Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Departments responded to the scene. Beauport EMS also responded to the scene to provide support to the four Gloucester engines, ladder truck and rescue vehicle that responded. Gloucester’s Deputy and Assistant Chiefs were also on-scene.

Members of the Beverly, Ipswich and Hamilton Fire Departments provided station coverage during the response.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Gloucester Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office.

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Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Attend Municipal Drone Training

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 15, 2019

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

Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Attend Municipal Drone Training

GLOUCESTER –Police Chief John McCarthy and Fire Chief Eric Smith are pleased to share that members of the Gloucester Police and Fire Departments attended a training on municipal drone use earlier this week.

Police Lt. Joe Fitzgerald and Fire Lt. Kevin Gargan attended a Salem State University workshop on Monday, March 11, on municipal applications of drones. The day-long workshop included lectures, discussion and field work with hands-on training.

The city of Gloucester is currently exploring the possibility of drone usage as a resource and shared asset to the Police and Fire Departments as well as the Department of Public Works.

“This training provided a great base knowledge of municipal drone use to Lt. Fitzgerald and Lt. Gargan,” Fire Chief Smith said. “As Gloucester examines the possible benefits of municipal drone use for several departments, it is great to have multiple city employees furthering their knowledge of how these devices function, the necessary steps for a municipality to pursue a drone program, and the possible benefits these devices may offer.”

The training was lead by Salem State University Geography Professor Stephen Young, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professional Richard Ames and Peabody Police Sgt. Christos Zamakis, who is currently studying drone use for police departments as he pursues a master’s degree in geo-information science at Salem State University.

“This training was comprehensive, and we greatly appreciate Salem State’s work in offering this workshop to support municipalities as we navigate this complex, new territory,” Chief McCarthy said. “Drones may become an invaluable resource to the city of Gloucester in the future, and it was great to give members of the police and fire departments the chance to expand their knowledge and gain some experience with these devices.”

Participants in the training learned about the current uses of drones for municipalities, how public safety departments and public works professionals can use drones, the different drone models currently available, necessary software to fly drones within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, how to obtain a remote pilot’s license, how to acquire proper insurance, and how to set up a drone project and fly a drone.

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City of Gloucester Encourages Residents to Sign Up for Smart911 Alerts

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City of Gloucester Encourages Residents to Sign Up for Smart911 Alerts

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief John McCarthy, Fire Chief Eric Smith, and Assistant Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Joe Aiello are encouraging residents to sign up for mobile safety notifications and create a profile through the city’s emergency alert system.

Gloucester Emergency Alerts, powered by Smart911, is the official emergency notification system used by the city to communicate with residents and business owners during a range of emergencies.

Smart911 is a free service that allows residents to sign up online to create a profile that will provide vital information to 911 call takers during an emergency — allowing first responders to make faster and more informed responses. People who live and work in Gloucester can add relevant information to their profile, including the number of people and pets living in a household or working at a business, what those people and pets look like, relevant medical conditions and allergies, and emergency contacts.

The system also allows participants to receive emergency notifications in real time. Emergency alerts are used to notify residents of a variety of situations, including power outages, evacuations, lock down situations, water advisories and road closures.

“I encourage all Gloucester residents to sign up for Smart911 Alerts,” Mayor Theken said. “By utilizing this technology, residents are able to receive important notifications while providing essential information that is needed to best help during an emergency situation. Stay informed. Take advantage of this safety tool and sign up today.”

Gloucester Emergency Alerts also issues advisories to residents for amber alerts, missing person alerts, snow, flooding, traffic, weather warnings and beach alerts.

“This safety alert system could truly save lives, and it only takes a few minutes to sign up online,” Fire Chief Smith said. “Knowing how many people, and pets, live in a household in the event of a fire is a huge help to first responders. Being aware of medical conditions can help us provide the best possible care in an emergency. This system is a great asset to our city’s safety– let’s use it to its full potential.”

Residents can sign up to receive mobile alerts and create a safety profile for their household by clicking here.

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Gloucester Firefighters to Participate in Fight for Air Climb

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Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Friday, Feb. 8, 2019

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

Gloucester Firefighters to Participate in Fight for Air Climb

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that members of the Gloucester Fire Department will participate in the annual Fight for Air Climb this March to raise funds for the American Lung Association (ALA).

WHEN:

March 30, at 8 a.m.

WHERE: 

One Boston Place, 201 Washington St., Boston

WHAT:

The Fight for Air Climb is a signature fundraiser event of the ALA, and climbs are held annually in skyscrapers across the United States. Participants climb their way up hundreds of stairs with the goal of raising money to support the ALA’s lung health research, patient education, and public policy efforts.

It is the eighth year members of the Gloucester Fire Department have come together to take part in the Boston Fight for Air Climb. This March, nine current members of the department and one retired member will join hundreds of local firefighters as they climb a looming Boston skyscraper with 41 floors and 789 stairs. The Gloucester Fire Department Team has a goal to raise $2,000 for the ALA this year.

The Gloucester Fire Department Fight for Air Team includes Lt. Chad Mota, Firefighter Jak Letien, Firefighter Nick Aiello, Firefighter Charlie Scola, Retired Assistant Chief Tom Aiello, Captain Jim Burke, Firefighter Tom Aldrich, EMS Coordinator Jon Sanger, Firefighter Jon Dyer, and Firefighter Jim Hannon.

“The fundraiser is near and dear to us because so many firefighters suffer from lung cancer, and lung disease from occupational exposure,” Lt. Chad Mota said.

Mota said in addition to the team’s goal of raising $2,000 for the climb, they also hope to be one of the top three firefighter teams with a combined climbing time. According to Mota, the group has been training for months in advance of the coming climb.

“The climb is tough,” he said. “The air is dry in the stairwell, and by the end of the climb your legs feel like rubber.”

According to the American Lung Association’s website, in 2018, there were 44 Fight for Air Climbs held across the United States, raising more than $7.4 million.

To donate to the Fight for Air Climb on behalf of the Gloucester Fire Department’s team, visit action.lung.org/site/TR/Climb/ALANE_Northeast?team_id=146412&pg=team&fr_id=17825.

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