Fire Department

Useful information

Brush burning

Where to get a burning permit for legal burning January 15th through May 1st.

Be safe on the ice!

Caution regarding ice thickness and strength.

Home-heating safety

Check conditions of your wood stove, chimney, and kitchen stove.

Portable heaters

Safety tips on buying and using portable space heaters.

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A request for help from Fire Chief Walter R. Tibbetts

Many of you may not realize this, but the number of members on the Shutesbury Fire Department has been on the decrease. The change in the town’s demographics, work and family responsibilities, and other time commitments have drastically reduced the number of people who apply to the Fire Department.

At the same time, State and Federal mandates, training requirements, and an increase in incident volume are putting more pressure on those who are presently doing the job here. The big problem is that there are not enough of us.

WE NEED HELP.  

If you are over the age of 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, and a valid Massachusetts driver's license, you are eligible to serve in the Fire Department.  You must obtain certifications for First responder and Health Care Provider Level CPR (this training will be provided by the department).   EMT and Semi-Automatic External Defibrillator certification is desirable.  You must:
     * Have the ability to do prolonged and arduous work under hazardous, adverse emergency conditions
     * Have the ability to react quickly and calmly in an emergency
     * Have the aptitude for mechanical work
     * Have the ability to work as a team member
     * Have the ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions quickly in a crisis situation

I will be the first to tell you, being a member of the Shutesbury Fire Department is a bit of a challenge. Fire fighters are committed to being as available as possible, but it is also understood that work, travel, and home and other commitments may prevent them from responding.  Training is conducted every Thursday night from 7:00 -10:30pm. There is other training available from the Massachusetts Fire Academy, Meadowood County Area training facility, as well as the Tri-State recruit training course.

While the job is challenging, it is also rewarding. Some of the benefits of being a member are:
     * The experience of being of service to the members of your community
     * Valuable training in how to handle and respond to emergencies
     * Being part of a skilled, well trained, close-knit team

It takes a certain kind of person to fill these boots. Are you one of them?

This is your department. Your neighbors need you. We need you. Please join us. For more information call the Shutesbury Fire Department at 259-1211 or the Chief at home at 259-1286, or stop by the Fire Station on Thursday night. You may also stop by the Fire Station, Monday thru Thursday, during the day.

Thank you all so much for the support you have given us in the past. I and all the members of the Department appreciate it. Hope to see you here.

                   Sincerely, Walter R. Tibbetts