February 2012 - DFS Briefs - Monthly Updates from the 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. 

Kathryn has retired with her last day being January 11.  Kathryn was with DFS over 18 years and held positions within MFA before making her home in our Fiscal Office.  She plans to travel extensively (to warmer climates in the winter months).  We wish Kathryn the best of luck in her future endeavors.  Barbara Steele, my Executive Assistant and right hand for many years, is retiring on March 3 after almost 28 years at DFS.  Barbara’s future plans include a three-week vacation to Hawaii with her husband and spending time with her newborn grandchild.  Best of luck, Barb….you will be missed!  Lastly, our Director of Emergency Response & Homeland Security, Kevin Partridge, is not retiring, but has left DFS to accept a new position as Chief of the Easton Fire Department.  Kevin worked for DFS five and a half years, and in his new position will still have a great amount of interaction with DFS staff.  Best of luck in your new position, Kevin.

Please be sure to avail yourself to all the important information contained in the February 2012 DFS Briefs.

Note:  The DFS Public Service Announcement (PSA) which featured Chef Ming Tsai can be downloaded by your local cable access station to play on the local channels.  I hope that you will help us continue to educate the public on the importance of cooking safety by asking your local cable access station to air it by downloading the Department of Fire Services Cooking Fire Safety PSA from the MyMassTV Network (MassAccess), a non-profit association of public, educational, non-profit and government access cable TV stations. The PSA is titled, Cooking Safety - Chef Ming Tsai PSA, and can be accessed via http://massaccess.telvue.com/.  The station will need to have a login with MassAccess to download the spot.