Department of Fire Services

The May edition of the DFS Briefs contains several upcoming training opportunities including – Hazardous Materials Process Information (527 CMR 33.00), Achieving Safe Housing, and Fireworks (CMR 2).

As the summer season will soon be here the Summer Safety Tips brochure is  included.

New forms to be used with Hazardous Material Process or Processing (527 CMR 33) and Elevator Emergency Operations are being introduced

The Department of Fire Services is pleased to offer a series of seminars to address the issue of illegal apartments and the development of strategies to achieve safe housing in communities.This training will emphasize a team approach to achieving safe housing by focusing on the various codes and enforcement authorities which may be applicable for compliance and enforcement. Presenters will define the problems relating to illegal and/or unsafe housing and the steps available, under Massachusetts law, to ensure that such housing is made safe. This program is offered to fire, health, building and law enforcement officials.

“Pool safety has been highlighted this past week with two young children drowning in pools. Another hazard is the chemicals we use to maintain swimming pools,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, “It’s important to take a moment to make a pool chemical safety plan and share it with family members.”   More 

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts President Paul Zbikowksi want to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety.  MORE 

This training is for the purpose of educating and informing local fire departments of the new regulation and its requirements. This training is in addition to what is being offered to the regulated community and is designed for fire service personnel only. The new regulation contains requirements of both facilities handling hazardous materials and the local head of the fire department. MORE 

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Edmund M. Walker presented certificates of completion to members of the Recruit Firefighter Training Class #194 in a graduation ceremony on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. The recruit graduation took place at the Department of Fire Services, 1 State Road, Stow, MA.

Spend the morning learning from Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard about his July 2011 incident where a gasoline tanker truck overturned causing a huge fuel spill and an enormous spreading fire. Spend the afternoon being introduced to risks and challenges for first responders faced with incidents involving ethanol blended fuels. Program will discuss extinguishing agents and include a live demonstration. For more information ...... 

The Department of Fire Services hosted the second Fire Service Professional Development Summit on March 12, 2012 where Superintendent of the National Fire Academy Dr. Denis Onieal presented certificates of recognition to the representatives of four Massachusetts colleges for their adoption of the nationally recognized Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) model curriculum for fire science majors. The four colleges being honored are Anna Maria College and Bunker Hill, Mount Wachusett and Quinsigamond Community Colleges. MORE 

The Department of Fire Services is pleased to introduce a multi-level training program for fire prevention officers. The training will prepare them to receive credentials for each level of the training from the State Fire Marshal - Basic, Level I and Level II. The first level - Fire Prevention Officer - Basic has an e-learning component and is the first part of the training to be launched. This program is the introductory level of our new Fire Prevention Officer Credentialing program and is designed to address the need of everyday fire prevention activities across the Commonwealth by providing information on basic inspections, smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarms, liquid propane (LP) installations and oil burner installations. The Credentialing Program will be issued by the State Fire Marshal to any Massachusetts fire service individual. Individuals must be a member of a Massachusetts fire department or Department of Fire Services staff. The credential will be issued upon receipt of a completed application by any firefighter and verification of the successful completion of the training program and examination.

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan announced that Uxbridge Fire Chief Peter J. Ostroskey has been appointed deputy state fire marshal at the state Department of Fire Services. The deputy state fire marshal is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the agency that includes an administrative division, the Mass. Firefighting Academy, the Division of Fire Safety, the Hazardous Materials Response Program, a Special Operations division, and State Police fire investigators and bomb squad members.

The Department of Fire Services has launched a new cooking campaign to combat the leading cause for home fires and injuries. This campaign has two very important messages...