As 2011 comes to an end, the following are the statics for the past year:
12 Structure Fires ( 1 or 2 family)  
7 Structure Fires ( 3 family or more)   
5 Structure Fires (Commercial and Other Buildings) 
13 Vehicle Fires  
38 Outside Fires   
4992 Medical Calls
982 False Alarms
16 Mutual Aid
117 Hazardous Materials
204 Other Hazardous Conditions
653 All other responses
 
Total 7039

Congratulations to Kara Supczak, Candice Bogalhas and Colleen Culver for completing the 194th Class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's sixty-day Recruit Firefighting Program in Stow, MA. This rigorous professional training provides firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.
 

Congratulations to Shawn Crimmins and Jeremy McPherson for completing the 193rd Class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's sixty-day Recruit Firefighting Program in Stow, MA. This rigorous professional training provides firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.

Northampton Fire Department had a busy month in August  with a total of 653 calls between fire and medical responses.This is the busiest month in the history of the fire departments over 150 years of dedicated service to the City of Northampton.

The Northampton Fire Department would like to welcome the 7 new recruits that have just completed a one month in house training and start on shift Sunday July 3rd. The new recruits are Jesse Rosnick, Job Hicks, Candice Bogalhas, Michael O'Brien, Colleen Culver, Kara Supczak and Ben Snape. All 7 are Paramedics, or in Paramedic school and some have fire department experience. They will all attend the Massachusetts Fire Academy 12 week recruit academy in Stow at some point in the future, but they are ready to work on shift with the in-house training they have received from our own training officers. Good luck to them all and may they have a great career.

Congratulations to Steve Hall and Kyle Lapointe for completing the 191st Class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s sixty-day Recruit Firefighting Program in Stow, MA. This rigorous professional training provides firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.

On the afternoon of June 1, 2011 the National Weather Service issued a severe thunder storm warning and a tornado warning for the Northampton area. On duty crews were prepared and ready for the storm to hit the area. At a little after 4 pm the sky over Northampton turned black and a heavy rain / hail storm pounded Northampton with some heavy wind, but fortunately there was no real damage. Within minutes, the sun was out and the sky was blue again. Then, suddenly the phones were ringing with requests from the City of Springfield for ambulances for multiple calls. Immediately, 3 Northampton Fire Department Ambulances responded to Springfield to assist. As soon as they arrived all the ambulances were put to work assisting AMR Ambulance, and many other ambulances treating and transporting patients from the tornado that touched down in the city. Additionally, 4 personnel in a utility truck with chainsaws responded to other areas around Springfield to assist as part of a regional task force of fire crews assisting with downed trees and searching for victims. Other administrative staff from Northampton Fire also responded to the area to assist in command roles. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of the Tornado.    

The Northampton Fire Department has taken delivery Zodiac ridged hull inflatable   rescue boat. The boat, which came from a US Coast Guard cutter was free excess surplus property made available to Northampton Fire through an excess property program run by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Forest Fire Control.  (Click here for more info on this program) The boat is equipped with a diesel motor and will be used for rescue operation on the Connecticut River and the Oxbow.  

The Northampton Fire Department has taken delivery of a used 1994 Simon-Duplex / Saulsbury Tanker. This past year, one of our reserve engines, a 1988 CF Mack failed its pump test and was taken out of service. Also, our 1990 Mack Tanker was experiencing some problems and limited space as it was only a 2 person cab. The Department requested to combine the two trucks and purchase a new tanker / pumper combination. With the city’s financial status, the request is in the capital plan, but cannot be filled for a few more years. The city did however appropriate some funds to purchase a used tanker / pumper to fill the need of the 2 failing trucks. A committee of department members and the department mechanic looked at a few used trucks when they found this 1994 tanker at a department in upstate New York. The truck has only 23,000 miles and is in very clean condition. It features a Detroit Diesel 350 HP engine, 1500 GPM Hale Pump, 1250 Gal. water tank with a Newton quick dump valve, stainless steel rescue style body, 6 person cab, generator and much more. Department members are currently training on the truck and is will be in service in the next few weeks.
 

Congratulations to Chris Monasterski and John Van't Land for completing the 190th Class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s sixty-day Recruit Firefighting Program in Stow, MA. This rigorous professional training provides firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.