Department of Fire Services

DFS has seen many changes in personnel in the last month.  First of all, I would like to welcome Peter J. Ostroskey as our new Deputy State Fire Marshal.  Peter will have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the agency.  See additional information in the separate write up on his appointment also on our website.  A special welcome to Peter.  We are sorry to see the following DFS employees leave.  Kathryn Olyniec was the Budget/Grants Supervisor in our Fiscal Office. 

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.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Chicago Fire Department Release New Everyone Goes Home® Video:  In an effort to make personal safety a top priority, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) today released a new video, Chicago Fire Department - Everyone Goes Home®. Members of the CFD and families of fallen firefighters share their stories in this compelling and moving testimonial of the importance of adhering to safety standards and accepting personal responsibility for following procedures.

WORCESTER – Wednesday, November 30, 2011 – Governor Deval L. Patrick today joined Public Safety Secretary Mary Elizabeth Heffernan and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan to honor firefighters from 32 Massachusetts communities for heroic acts of bravery during the 22nd annual “Firefighter of the Year” Awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester.

The Department of Fire Services is pleased to announce the Fire Prevention Officer Credentialing Program. This series of trainings and exams will lead to the designation of "Fire Prevention Officer - Basic", "Fire Prevention Officer - Level I" and "Fire Prevention Officer - Level II". The attached presentation outlines the process as well as the timeline for these programs. Look for more information to be posted on our website in mid December.

 Just a week after Halloween, Sunday, November 6 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time. Change your clock, change your battery! When you turn the clocks back one hour, don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.

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...

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by the following nine manufacturers and distributors: Bird Brain Inc., Bond Manufacturing, Sunjel Company, Fuel Barons Inc., Lamplight Farms Inc., Luminosities Inc., Pacific Décor Ltd., Real Flame, and Smart Solar Inc. This recall is being made due to the severe risks of flash fires and burns when consumers refuel an already burning fire pot with pourable gel. This can cause it to ignite unpredictably and splatter onto people and/or objects close by. Consumers should immediately stop using gel fuel and can contact these nine firms to get information for a refund of the product and also for returning unused bottles and jugs.

The 2011 YouTube™ High School Burn Awareness Video Contest is announced by State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. The contest is co-sponsored by the state Department of Fire Services, the Mass. Association of Safety and Fire Educators (MA SAFE), and the Mass. Property Insurance Underwriting Association. High school communications teachers are encouraged to have students in grades 9-12 develop 1-3 minute videos by December 16, 2011. Fire educators hope that students will engage in discovery learning using their own medium to understand the dangerous, life-long consequences of the misuse of fire to combat all the incorrect and incomplete information that exists on the Internet about fire and burns. Teachers should know that the contest addresses the English and Language Arts Curriculum Framework. Fire educators are encouraged to talk to their high schools about this contest.