All Hands Massachusetts Department of Fire Services January 2020 30th Annual FirefighterFirefighter ofof thethe YearYear AwardsAwards Turnout Gear & Washer-Extractor Grant Programs Springfield Search and Rescue Prop Dedicated Massachusetts Fire Training Council Reaccredited Contents Editor New Search and Rescue Training Jennifer Mieth 2 Prop Dedicated in Springfield Copy Editors State officials joined State Fire Marshal Ostroskey and Timothy Moore Congressman Richard Neal at the November 5, 2019 Justine Potter dedication of a new Search and Rescue Training Prop Julie Weinstein at the DFS Springfield campus. Graphic Artist Julie Weinstein Massachusetts Fire Training The All Hands Herald is 3 Council Reaccredited published three times a The National Board on Fire Service Professional year by the Department Qualifications has reaccredited the Massachusetts of Fire Services. Our title Fire Training Council for 4 years. incorporates the traditional fire service meaning of all hands working to extinguish a fire. In this publication, all th hands is DFS staff providing The 30 Annual Firefighter information, training and 4 of the Year Awards assistance with fire service issues which affect all levels The Governor and other officials honored of the fire service. firefighters from 14 fire departments for heroic acts of bravery at the 30th Annual “Firefighter Let us know how you like the of the Year” awards ceremony. All Hands Herald and what we can do to make it even more useful to you – our 1 From the Fire Marshal dedicated fire service 5 Firefighter Turnout Gear & Washer-Extractor Grant Programs members and customers. 6 Fire Safety Code Amended to Include Cannabis Regulation If you have suggestions, 7 Be Careful Buying Smoke and CO Alarms Online ideas, questions or want to make a contribution to the 8 Massachusetts Maritime Academy Students Train at MFA All Hands Herald, contact: 9 Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains Celebrates 20th Anniversary Jennifer Mieth 9 In Memory of Rich Fredette Public Information Officer Department of Fire Services 10 Fire Investigation News 1 State Road 12 Nantucket HazMat Response Stow, MA 01775 [email protected] 12 Technical Rescue Update 978-567-3189 13 Fire Safety in the Movie Industry 14 Free Skin Cancer Screenings for the Fire Service Visit us online at www.mass.gov/dfs and on 15 New Canine Teams Train at DFS Facebook and Twitter 15 Boiler and Pressure Vessel Unit Retirements 16 What is the Winter Fire Story? Using Data to Promote Fire Safety 17 Fire Mobilization Plan Update 18 25th Annual Fire & Life Safety Education Conference Photos by DFS staff 19 2020 License Examination Schedule 20 Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Graduations Back cover: Hydrogen-Fueled Vehicles Expected in New England in 2020 Front cover: Technical Rescue Teams Train for Ice Rescues 2 January 2020 All Hands Herald 1 From the Fire Marshal Last year closed on a somber note. Massachusetts lost a occupational cancer by firefighter who was heroically searching for a baby trapped preventing and reducing on the third floor of a triple-decker in Worcester. When exposures to carcinogenic the fire service loses one of its own, whether we knew the byproducts of combustion. firefighter personally or not, we all feel the loss. Our hearts MFTC Reaccredited are heavy with grief for the family of Lt. Jason Menard For 4 Years and for the members of the Worcester Fire Department The National Board on who are still mourning the 2018 loss of Firefighter Fire Service Professional Christopher Roy. Qualifications (commonly 30th Annual Firefighter of the Year Awards referred to as The Pro Board) reaccredited the Massachu- This most recent loss was on the minds of all who attended setts Fire Training Council (MFTC) in October. The and participated in the 30th annual Firefighter of the Year accreditation is for four years and covers 19 different levels. Heroic Awards ceremony on November 26, 2019. Governor I want to thank the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and staff, and in particular, Bob Rand, for their hard work in Undersecretary Jeanne Benincasa Thorpe celebrated making sure we met all the requirements for this important many heroic acts by firefighters around the Common- accreditation. wealth during the past year. They presented the Medal of Fire Prevention, Electrical and Boiler Honor posthumously to Christopher Roy’s family, who Regulation Updates certainly know the pain of the Menard family. The proposed changes promulgated by both the Board of The Firefighter of the Year Awards ceremony allowed Fire Prevention Regulations (BFPR) and the Board us to honor firefighters from Andover, Boston, Everett, of Boiler Rules (BBR) took effect in October, significantly Fall River, Fitchburg, Lawrence, North Andover, Revere, sooner than the January 1, 2020 date we had anticipated. Rochester, Rockland, Saugus, Sudbury, Westborough, and The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) and staff Worcester. They were awarded Medals of Valor, Citations in the Fire Safety Division have already rolled out training for Meritorious Conduct, for the fire service in order to quickly bring local code Excellence in Leadership enforcement staff up to speed on the changes. The BBR awards, and the Norman changes were mostly housekeeping issues now that the Knight Community Service board is affiliated with DFS and the Boiler and Pressure Award. The Stephen D. Vessel Program has been integrated into our agency. Major Coan Fire Marshal’s Award revisions to the Mass. Electrical Code (MEC) based on the was presented to the entire 2020 edition of NFPA 70 with Massachusetts amendments Andover, Lawrence and will take effect this month. North Andover Fire Depart- ments for their response to, Bridgewater Campus and leadership in, the This fall, work continued on making the new Bridgewater recovery from the Merri- campus ready for the first Recruit Firefighter Training class Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard mack Valley gas explosions. in January. Our facilities staff have been working at a break-neck pace to bring this unused state property into Grants to Fire Departments working order. We know that there is a long wait list for the In December, Governor Baker awarded grants from the Career Recruit program and that many on that list are Firefighter Turnout Gear Grant Program and the Wash- from the southeastern part of the state. Bringing this er-Extractor Equipment Grant Program to local fire facility on line will help us to train more firefighters more departments. Both programs were made possible through quickly. Code compliance and Fire Investigation Unit staff funding appropriated by the Massachusetts Legislature assigned to the southeastern part of the state are already and the Administration. We appreciate their support. housed there. These grants will help fire departments to combat Continued on page 3 2 January 2020 All Hands Herald 1 New Search and Rescue Training Prop Dedicated in Springfield On November 5, 2019, Congressman Richard Neal, Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Andrew Peck, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and public safety and fire officials dedicated a new Search and Rescue Training Prop at the Department of Fire Services’ Springfield campus. The prop was funded by a $434,783 fiscal year 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The new training prop allows firefighters to practice searching for and rescuing victims in a fire without taking the live fire training building out of service. The new prop has one room where live fire training can also take place. The prop increases the flexibility of the training schedule particularly for the Career and the Call/Volunteer Firefighter “Training saves lives, and training sites like this one help Recruit Firefighter Training Programs and for the save the lives of firefighters and the people who count on Springfield Fire Department. them,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas “Congratulations to the Department of Fire Turco. “We’re deeply grateful to Fire Marshal Ostroskey, his Services’ Springfield campus for securing the team, and the local, state, and federal partners whose hard federal funding from the FEMA to open this work helps to deliver consistent training to firefighters at all important facility where lifesaving training will state fire training facilities.” occur,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal. “Fire- “This facility is an incredible example of a local, state and fighters constantly face new challenges. When we federal partnership that works and pays real dividends to help them train to face them, they are better able the cities and towns of Massachusetts. I want to thank all our to protect their communities. An investment in partners for improving our ability to train firefighters who training is an investment in every community in put themselves on the line for us every day,” said Springfield the Commonwealth. I am proud to be a partner on Mayor Sarno. the federal level.” “This training facility has made the rigorous training the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy offers more accessible to firefighters in western Massachusetts,” said Northampton Fire Chief Duane Nichols, representing the Western Massa- chusetts Fire Chiefs’ Association. He added, “It has also made training more available statewide as more classes can be held allowing new hires to be trained sooner.” State firefighting academies have been eligible for federal Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) for only six years. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy has made successful grant requests each year and has received $2.4 million in funding for vital training resources. Several other Left to right: Mayor Sarno, State Fire Marshal Ostroskey, training props funded by the AFG program were on display Representative Neal, David Parr, Chief Condon, during this dedication: the forcible entry prop, the maze David Evans. trailer, the flashover training prop, and the new search and rescue training prop. 2 January 2020 All Hands Herald 3 Massachusetts Fire Training Council Reaccredited In October 2019, State Fire Marshal Peter J.