4 Northampton Firefighters have graduated in the 187th 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. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy is a division of the Department of Fire Services. The 4 Firefighters are Michael Mascio, Natalie Stollmeyer, Jim Mulkerin and Eathen Ledoux.

Members of Northampton and Easthampton Fire Departments along with members of Westover Fire Department took part in a training exercise at Westover Air Force Base fire training ground. Members were able to practice fire suppression, ventilation, aerial operations as well as rescue of a down firefighter in Tuesdays exercise. It also provides a chance for different agencies to work together as a team.

Please check out the following link for more info on the Northampton Firefighters, Relay for life team.

main.acsevents.org/site/TR

Northampton Fire Department members have raised over $ 5,000.00 for St. Baldrick’s, a group that raises money for childhood cancer research. 1 Deputy Chief, 3 Captains, 1 Dispatcher and 9 Firefighters collected donations with promise to shave their heads to show solidarity for children with cancer who have lost their hair. The event, done annually around the country was held at Rafters in Amherst and was organized by U-Mass Police Department. The event in Amherst raised over $ 33,000.00 with the donations and raffles. We would like to thank everyone who helped by making a donation.  Photos courtesy of Fireground360.com

Worldwide, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer each year. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. At St. Baldrick’s events all throughout the year, brave volunteers shave their heads, raising funds for research. Like runners in a marathon, “shavees” collect donations from family, friends and associates. The Foundation receives these funds and makes grants to research experts to find new and better treatments for fighting kids’ cancer. Two of St. Baldrick’s largest groups of shavees are firefighters and police officers. These men and women are already making a big difference in their communities but have committed their time and hair to help St. Baldrick’s conquer kids’ cancer! In 2009, St. Baldrick’s had more than 1,500 firefighters and 700 police officers shave for the cause.
 
This year, 14 Members of the Northampton Fire Department are participating on March 28th at Rafters in Amherst. To date, Team NFD has raised over $3,500.00 and the number keeps going up every day. Please support Team NFD by giving a donation to the team by clicking the St. Baldrick's Logo to the right, then clicking Team NFD on the bottom.

The Northampton Firefighters Relief Association held its first annual luncheon for both retired and active members of the department. Over 50 members of the relief (made up of both active and retired members) of The Northampton Fire Department attended the lunch which was held at the Florence Fire Station. Off duty members volunteered their time to cook a corned beef and cabbage lunch with potatoes, carrots and dessert. It was a great opportunity for both retirees and active members to see each other, mingle and tell stories. It also allowed for newer personnel to meet their predecessors. All in attendance got to enjoy a slideshow highlighting the history of the department.  The spring like weather allowed people to gather both inside and outside and a good time was had by all .  

Members of the Northampton Fire Department participated in the American Lung Association “Fight for air” stair climb on March 6th, 2010. Members climbed 48 flights (24 floors) of the Monarch Building in Springfield. As part of the firefighters division, all members had to wear full PPE (Turnout coat, pants, boots, and helmet) and a SCBA on air. The team raised $1,360.00 from sponsors for The American Lung Association. Members of the team included Captain Jon Davine, Acting Captain Larry Therien, Firefighter Daryl Springman, Firefighter Jim Mulkerin and Firefighter Natalie Stollmeyer.

Northampton Fire Department is off to a busy start in 2010 with a total of 605 calls between fire and medical responses in the month of January. This is the busiest month in the history of the fire departments over 150 years of dedicated service to the City of Northampton.

For Immediate Release

From: Northwest District Attorney Elizabeth D. Scheibel

On Monday January 4, 2010, an arrest was made relating to the recent fires in Northampton. Arrested was Anthony P. Baye, age 25, of 85 Hawley Street, Northampton. Mr Baye was arrested at the Northampton Police Station at approximately 8 p.m. He has been charged with two counts of murder and one count each of Arson and Armed Burglary relating to the December 27th fire at 17 Fair Street. He is presently being held without the right to bail at the Northampton Police Department. He is expected to be arraigned in Northampton District Court on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. No further details will be released at this time. A press conference is scheduled to be held at the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, One Gleason Plaza, Northampton, after Mr. Baye's arraignment.

On behalf of the Northampton Fire Dept. we would like to express our sincere sympathy to all those affected by the recent events that have devastated our community. 
A series of unprecedented events resulted in a general alarm response to Northampton. Although challenged by the number of incidents that took place in such a short period of time we met the challenge with the help of our neighboring communities.   Northampton supported by the following communities engaged in fire suppression which resulted in the saving of personal property of many of our residents.   Those towns included: Easthampton, Amherst, Greenfield, Hatfield, Whately, Conway, Deerfield, South Deerfield, Sunderland, Orange, Athol, Goshen, Chesterfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Hadley, South Hadley Districts 1 & 2, Ware, Belchertown, Northfield, Montague, TurnersFalls, Granby and Charlemont.
We remain prepared. An operational plan is in place. We will provide resources as we move forward. 
Northampton Fire Department is an active member of the newly formed Joint Arson Task force. We will continue response and support in the effort to bring the person or persons to justice. 
The investigation is being directed by the District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel.   All public information requests need to be placed in writing and submitted to the fire department at 26 Carlon Dr., Northampton and we will forward them to the District Attorney’s office for review.   The phone number for the Northwestern District Attorney’s office is 413-586-9225.
Very truly yours,
 
Chief Brian Duggan